The Farmers Mart Jun-Jul 2019 - Issue 63 | Page 50

50 ARABLE
JUN/JUL 2019 • farmers-mart.co.uk
REDUCING RISKS AROUND YOUR
AGRICULTURAL VEHICLES THIS HARVEST
AT McClarrons, we offer inde-
pendent insurance advice not
only to rural businesses using
agricultural machinery but also to
Agricultural Motor Traders, who
we have built a bespoke product
for – AgriTrade. We often see a
surge in claims during harvest
time, so we’ve put together 6
ways those working with agri-
cultural machinery can look to
reduce accidents and claims by
preparing for harvest.
During harvest, we see a sharp
rise in claims made and it usually
relates to the breakdown, damage
or theft of machinery. An inter-
rupted harvest period can have
significant, long-lasting effects and
yet many of these claims can eas-
ily be avoided by taking the right
precautions at the right time.
In fact, some of the most com-
mon claims we deal with can be
minimised by taking quick steps
and planning. If you’re an agricul-
tural business, take note of the
below before harvest starts.
Be wary of foreign
objects Deter theft and
malicious damage
Many of the claims we deal with
involve foreign objects such as
tree branches and rubbish dam-
aging the combine header, auger,
drum, concave or rotor. If you are
close to hanging trees or adjacent
to roads or railways, it’s worth
having your trailer driver walk the
perimeter or area to remove any
debris. One hour of checking can
save many hours of downtime. Thieves and vandals don’t
understand the implications their
actions can have so you need
to deter them as best you can.
Ensuring your machinery is locked
away or parked as far away
from roads as possible is a good
start. For quadbikes and similar
sought-after vehicles, consider
installing tracking devices to assist
with recovery. Generally, keeping
your premises locked and well-lit
helps, and even just the warning
of CCTV in operation can deter
many would-be criminals.
Consider your
exposure to fire
Whether it’s a combine, baler,
a piece of machinery or even a
straw stack, fires are a constant
source of claims we handle. Take
simple, logical steps to reduce
the chances of a fire occurring.
Maintain machinery regularly,
carry fire extinguishers on board
machines, separate straw stacks
into smaller heaps and ensure
a fire is unable to spread from
machine to machine, or machine
to stacks.
Keep up to date with
safety procedures
Sound health and safety
procedures and an awareness of
the risks around you can prevent
many personal injury claims,
which we unfortunately deal with
regularly. Checking vehicles and
machinery at regular intervals,
using adequate protective cloth-
ing and ensuring you and your
staff have a solid understanding of
the procedures to follow when at
work can help to reduce acci-
dents and claims.
Stay safe on the road
Tractors and other machinery
can be a victim of impatient driv-
ers making unsafe manoeuvres.
In low visibility conditions, it’s not
only your machinery that is in
danger but the drivers of the vehi-
cles, too. Ensure all your lights are
fully operational and any flashing
beacons are working. Clean lights,
appropriate signage and a sound
awareness of driving with tractors
and trailers for all of your drivers
can further reduce the risk.
There are plenty of other things
to consider during harvest, such
as your procedure in a power
outage, the width of gateways and
entrances and any vegetation that
may have overgrown. Spending
some time considering what could
go wrong and how it might affect
you during harvest time can prove
vital.
What happens if I do
need to claim?
We know that some things are
ultimately out of your control. If you
do need to claim, it’s important that
you provide your insurance compa-
ny with as much information as
possible, including a description of
the incident itself, the date and time
of occurrence, the location and the
finer details at your very first op-
portunity. If the incident relates to
a motor incident, be sure you take
the person’s name, address, contact
details and vehicle registration.
Bear in mind that any photographs
evidencing any damage will prove
helpful no matter what type of
claim you are making.
If you would like to discuss any
other element of your agricultural
insurance, or if you are an
Agricultural Motor Trader and
would like more information about
our specialist policy – AgriTrade –
contact our team on 01653 697055
or email farm@mcclarroninsurance.
com.