Farm Insurance

This cover provides protection against legal liability for injury or disease caused to employees of the farmer in the course of their farming duties. We have all heard the unfortunate horror stories of farm injuries and, as recent data from the Health & Safety Authority suggests, farming continues to be one of the most dangerous work sectors in the country.

By law, every farmer with fewer than three employees must complete a risk assessment document and comply with the Farm Safety Code of Practice. Farmers with more than three employees must complete a Safety Statement. This regulation also applies to individuals working on a seasonal basis on the farm. FBD provides a standard limit of indemnity of €13million. We can tailor your policy to suit the particular needs of your farming enterprise.

We also uniquely provide Employers' Liability cover for all farm family members over the age of 14. Likewise, family members returning to help out on the farm, at weekends or summer holidays, are covered under the standard policy.

Talk to your FBD Representative to ensure that suitable cover is in place on your policy. Provide a full declaration of wages and the work activities on your farm. Some activities can fall outside what is considered standard farming practice. These must be declared to us, to allow us extend your cover accordingly. These activities may include building work, horse training or agricultural contracting.

Public Liability insurance covers legal liability for injury, disease or property damage caused to a member of the public arising from your farming activities.

Personal Liability covers liability that may attach to a farmer in a personal capacity. An example would be while partaking in a sport. FBD's Public Liability cover provides personal liability cover for the farmer and all family members residing with the farmer.

The Road Traffic Act, 1993, states that a farmer is responsible for muck left on the road which could subsequently lead to an accident. Simple examples which can result in expensive legal actions include accidents arising from dirt on roads belonging to individual farmers, livestock entering a neighbour's property and causing damage or accidents arising from livestock.

The Animals Act, 1985, states that a farmer is responsible for accidents or damage caused by his/her livestock. This type of incident is catered for under Public Liability insurance. FBD offers a standard limit of indemnity of €2.6 million. We would once again emphasise the importance of making a full declaration of work activities to us.

Products' Liability covers legal liability for injury or disease caused to individuals, as a result of defects in farm produce sold or supplied. An example of this liability is where contamination is discovered in a farmer's milk supply to the creamery. Products' Liability cover is provided as standard under FBD's farm Public Liability cover.More so than for many other occupations, farmers carry a significant responsibility arising from their activities.

Various forms of livestock insurance are available. In addition to the more traditional insurance risks of fire, lightning, explosion, storm, electrocution and flood, farmers can insure their livestock for injury while in transit or if they stray from the insured's property.

Transporting livestock by trailer is a related insurance issue which should be kept under review. Here, cover is available for livestock that are injured while moving from farmyard to an out-farm or going to the factory or mart. Please note that this is a separate cover for loss or damage to livestock and should not be confused with Liability cover.

The FBD policy can also provide cover against accidental injury arising in connection with the collapse of slats. More expensive pedigree livestock can be insured on an individual basis against mortality arising in connection with injury or disease.

Other mobile property, such as trailers and tools, which are vulnerable to theft, can be insured. Cover on tools is usually restricted to theft from specified outbuildings which have approved security standards.

In terms of insurance, it is important that any new farm buildings are included under the policy. A separate but related issue is that of under-insurance of outbuildings. It is important that the sums insured selected are adequate for full reinstatement. Provision should also be made on the Policy to provide fire cover for agricultural produce, hay, straw, agricultural implements, tools and fire brigade charges.

Another form of cover which can be very important for farmers is Personal Accident cover.While liability cover protects your liabilities to third parties, Personal Accident cover provides specified financial benefits to the farmer should he/she be involved in an accident. For cover to operate the accident must be caused directly by accidental, violent means. Examples would be injuries caused as a result of a vehicle or machinery accident.

Contact your nearest FBD office. We would be delighted to discuss your insurance needs in more detail with you.