Harvest season is one of the busiest and most demanding times of the year for farmers and agricultural businesses. Long hours, heavy equipment, changing weather conditions, increased traffic, and tight deadlines can create additional risks for your operation.
Taking time to identify and address those risks before harvest gets into full swing can help protect your employees, equipment, crops, property, and livelihood.
Inspect Harvest Equipment
Before heading into the fields, inspect combines, tractors, grain carts, trucks, and other equipment. Look for worn belts, damaged hoses, electrical issues, leaking fluids, and other mechanical problems.
Make sure safety guards and shield are in place and that equipment is properly maintained. A preseason inspection can help identify problems before they lead to an accident, breakdown, or costly delay.
It is also important to make sure equipment operators understand how to safely operate the machinery they are using.
Be Aware of Fire Risks
Dry crops, dust, hot machinery, and long hours can create serious fire hazards during harvest. Regularly remove crop residue, dust, and debris from equipment, particularly around engines and other areas that generate heat.
Keep appropriate fire extinguishers accessible and make sure employees know where they are located. If a piece of equipment overheats or begins showing signs of a potential fire, shut it down safely and address the problem before returning it to service.
Take Extra Care Around Gain Bins and Silos
Grain storage areas can present serious hazards, including falls, entanglement, engulfment, and hazardous atmospheres.
Make sure employees understand the dangers associated with grain bins and follow appropriate safety procedures. Avoid entering a grain bin when possible and never enter without following proper safety precautions and having the necessary equipment and assistance.
Keep children and unauthorized visitors away from grain handling and storage areas.
Plan for Changing Weather
Harvest does not always happen under ideal conditions. Rain, high winds, frost, and rapidly changing weather can affect both field operations and stored cups.
Monitor weather conditions and have a plan for severe weather. Know when to stop fieldwork or more equipment to a safer location.
Weather can also affect road conditions and visibility, so take extra care when moving equipment between fields or traveling on public roads.
Make Farm Equipment Visible On The Road
Large agricultural equipment often travels slowly and may be wider than a standard traffic lane. Make sure tractors, combines, wagons, and other equipment have appropriate lighting, reflectors, and warning devices.
Use cation when entering and exiting public roads, and make sure operators understand the safest routes for moving equipment between locations.
If you’re transporting crops, make sure loads are properly secured and vehicles are appropriate for the job.
Manage Fatigue
Harvest season can mean long days and long nights. Fatigue can affect reaction time, decision making, and concentration, increasing the risk of accidents.
Whenever possible, schedule reasonable breaks and encourage employees to get adequate rest. Avoid rushing through a task simply to meet a deadline. A few extra minutes can be worth it when safety is involved.
Protect Your Property and Equipment
Harvest season often means more valuable equipment, fuel, crops, and other assets are being used and stored on the property.
Review how equipment is secured when it is not in use. Keep valuable machinery in secure locations when possible and make sure keys are properly controlled.
Also consider your fuel storage, electrical systems, barns, outbuildings, and other areas where a loss could have a significant impact on your operation.
Have a Plan for Equipment Breakdowns
A major equipment breakdown during harvest can quickly become more than an inconvenience. Know who you will contact for repairs and where you can obtain replacement parts or backup equipment if needed.
If your operation relies heavily on one particular piece of equipment, consider what you would do if it were suddenly unavailable.
Having a backup plan can help minimize downtime when every hour of harvest matters.
Review Your Insurance Coverage
Harvest season is also a good time to review your farm and agricultural insurance coverage. Your operation may have changed since your last policy review. You may have purchased new equipment, expanded your acreage, added buildings, changed your livestock, operation, or increased the value of your stored crops and property.
Make sure your coverage reflects your current operation and equipment.
Depending on your circumstances, important areas to review may include farm property, farm equipment, liability, farm vehicles, outbuildings, stored crops, and business income or additional coverage related to your operation.
Your insurance needs can change as your farm changes, so an annual review can help identify potential gaps before a loss occurs.
Safety Starts Before The Harvest
Harvest season is a critical time for agricultural operations, but it does not have to mean accepting unnecessary risks. Inspecting equipment, preparing for changing weather, managing fatigue, protecting property, and reviewing your insurance can all help you enter the season prepared.
At Gannon Associates Insurance, we understand that agricultural businesses have unique risks and unique insurance needs. Our team can help you review your coverage and make sure your insurance keeps pace with your operation.
