The term HAZARD is defined quite simply as a “danger or risk.” Hazards seemingly exist everywhere on a farm, so wouldn’t it make sense for you to mitigate that risk as much as you can?

While you may be asking yourself, “how am I going to know what hazards exist,” I’m here to tell you that Richey-Barrett Insurance makes it easy for you! Below is a snippet from our full farm hazard analysis application you can use.

Is lighting in and around the dwelling and outbuildings adequate?

Am I keeping all fuel storage tanks at an appropriate distance from all buildings?

Do I have harnesses and ropes available for anyone entering a grain bin?

Do I maintain and operate all machinery in accordance with the instructions?

Do all Power Take-Offs (PTOs) have guards and shields in place to prevent injury?

Have I trained all my employees on the proper and safe handling of farm chemicals?

Have I placed “No Smoking” signs in all buildings and anywhere chemicals are stored?

Do I have adequate spill retention devices in all chemical storage locations?

Do I have fire extinguishers readily available in all outbuildings?

When were my fire extinguishers last inspected/serviced? By whom?

Are all children required to wear PPE at all times when using equipment?

Is all hay or other flammable material stored away from combustible materials?

Are First Aid kits readily available at all times?

While not the end-all be-all of hazard analysis forms, it will certainly get you looking more critically at the finer points of your operation. After completing this little exercise, I am confident that you will be better able to judge how well you have already addressed these general farm exposures.

Why not do yourself a favor, give me a quick call or send an email to mikel@www.richey-barrett.com, and I’m happy to forward you a copy of the full farm hazard analysis form! Perhaps you’ll find that you’re not protecting yourself as well as you thought, or maybe you get straight A’s, like it’s ECON 101, from freshman year of college!

Regardless how your results turn out, Richey-Barrett Insurance wants to help you improve the way you address your risks. Why wait for something bad to happen? Reach out today, get your analysis form, and take a look for yourself! When you’re done, I’m happy to review and discuss your results with you.

Farm Loss Control, Farm Insurance, Farm Hazard, Farm Risk Management, Farm Hazard Analysis