BELFAST -- Liberty Risk Services-Northern Ireland today celebrated the grand opening of its new Health and Safety Training Center located in Adelaide Business Park in Belfast. Liberty Risk Services is a leading provider of health and safety training and consulting services and a member of the Liberty Mutual Group. The 6,500 square foot, custom-built facility is the only training center in Northern Ireland to offer an Emergency Rescue Simulator for training in the use of breathing apparatus, emergency rescue and all aspects of confined space, as well as forklift truck instructor training.

The event was attended by members of the Liberty Mutual Group and by local business leaders. Speakers at today's event included Ted Kelly, Liberty Mutual Group president and chief operating officer, and Clive Carroll, managing director of Liberty Risk Services and NIFAST Ltd.

"The opening of our new Health and Safety Training Center in Belfast is a perfect example of how Liberty Mutual supports its mission of 'helping people live safer, more secure lives,'" said Ted Kelly. "With the addition of the training center, our customers in Northern Ireland now have access to a comprehensive range of health and safety consulting services."

A unique aspect of the Center is the Liberty Risk Services Emergency Rescue Simulator that simulates emergency situations involving tunnels, crawl galleries, confined space entry and rescue procedures. Liberty Risk Services instructors designed the simulator to train workers how to respond during an emergency, and to complement the 1998 Code of Practice for Confined Space and Rescue. Liberty's new Center also is the only Road Transport Industry Training Board accredited facility in Northern Ireland that can provide forklift truck driver training to instructor level. Before the opening of the new Center, companies in Northern Ireland had to send their employees to England for specialized forklift training.

The Center will become the hub of Liberty Risk Services' training and consulting operation in Northern Ireland and will provide courses in areas such as forklift truck instructor training, fleet safety, first aid training, fire and emergency rescue training, and safety management training.

The Center is located at Unit 2 Falcon Way, Adelaide Business Park, Belfast, BT12 6SQ. The telephone number is 01232 687800, and the facsimile number is 01232 687896. For more information, contact Eithne Harley at Liberty Risk Services-Northern Ireland.

Liberty Risk Services-Northern Ireland was established in 1995 as a branch of NIFAST Ltd., the largest supplier of health and safety training and consulting services in the Republic of Ireland. NIFAST Ltd. is part of the Liberty International Risk Services network of occupational health and safety consulting offices located around the world.

Boston-based Liberty Mutual Group is a diversified financial services company with more than $40 billion in consolidated assets and more than $50 billion in additional assets under management. The company provides sophisticated risk management and risk transfer services, including a full range of property and casualty insurance, disability and group life insurance. It is recognized as a world leader in occupational health and safety services. Liberty Mutual employs 23,000 people in more than 500 offices throughout the world.

Liberty International, a member of the Liberty Mutual Group, provides distinctive insurance produces and services in selected international markets.