Covers your legal responsibility to the general public, visitors, customers, employees and suppliers should they suffer an accident or injury while on your farm. Public liability insurance covers the cost of legal defense and compensation in the unfortunate event of a claim against you following an injury, disease, or property damage that occurred at your farm or arising from your farming activities.

What is an example of a public liability claim?

• Cattle breaking out onto a road and causing damage
• Muck transferred from your farm to the road causing a motor accident
• Slips, trips or falls when a third party visits your farm

• You should consider all aspects of your farming business and declare all your activities, such as agricultural contracting or tillage farming. Once you have informed your broker, they will help source the appropriate protection.
• Your insurer or broker also requires your consideration. Ask them if they have a proven track record of dealing with and paying claims associated with farming businesses and agricultural enterprises.
• It is important you understand the insurance cover you are taking and the policy terms (the small print). You should take the time to understand, listen and query the level of protection being offered by your policy. If you have any questions please talk to your Sheridan Insurances broker, who will be happy to talk through the fine print with you.
• You may decide not to insure some risks and while this is entirely your choice, be sure you understand the potential consequences of your decision. Your Sheridan Insurances broker knows and understands the unique risks which you are exposed to as a farmer and can provide in-depth advice.
• As tempting as it may be, price is not the best way to determine whether a policy is right for you. It is much more important to consider the amount of cover your policy provides and whether it is a match for your farming business needs.
• Not all policies are the same. Every policy has individual policy wording and will contain specific terms, conditions, or exclusions. You should familiarise yourself with your policy and ask your Sheridan Insurances broker for help if anything is unclear.

Sometimes farmers need a hand with a simple task or a seasonal job. That’s why you might consider taking agricultural contracting as part of your policy. It is better to have the cover in place and enjoy the confidence to bring on contractors as you need them.

A good example of how employer’s liability insurance applies to farmers is when it is time to move cattle. You might ask a neighbour to help you. If your neighbour was injured in the process, you could be liable for their injuries. However, with employer’s liability insurance added to your insurance policy, you should be covered for the costs incurred by such an injury. As the person who sought assistance from your neighbour, the onus lies on you to arrange the extension on your insurance policy and ensure you have sufficient cover in the event something goes wrong.

Employers’ Liability is an essential cover that provides protection against an employee’s claim for an injury sustained while working on your farm.  Employers’ liability cover gives you peace of mind you are covered in the event something goes wrong. Equally, the pursuit of farm safety statement should be a key priority on your farm; the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has guidelines and excellent information regarding farm safety statements and policies.

Yes, even if you have one employee and the odd family member to help out on occasion, it is advisable to have Employers Liability cover. In addition, the Health and Safety Authority states every farmer is required by law to prepare a safety statement and share it with his/her employees. *The 2005 Act allows farmers with three or less employees to comply with the terms of a Code of Practice as an alternative to preparing a Safety Statement. *

https://www.hsa.ie/eng/Your_Industry/Agriculture_Forestry/Agricultural_FAQ’s

Always talk to your Sheridan Insurances broker before you reduce your cover. They will determine the cover you need and ensure your farm and livelihood is protected in the event something goes wrong.

• Be prepared. Have your policy schedule on hand or contact your Sheridan Insurances broker to obtain a copy. This gives you a base line to begin with and helps you and your broker compare cover options with insurance providers and discuss the best cover options available to you.
• Any changes. If your farm or operations have undergone any changes since your last policy renewal, please advise your Sheridan Insurances broker who can review whether the cover you have is a match for the cover you need now.
• Check the sum insured. It is important your sums insured are adequate and cover you in the event a full reinstatement is needed; under-insurance puts you at risk of being significantly out-of-pocket in the event something goes wrong. You should also ensure your policy provides fire cover for agricultural produce, hay, straw, agricultural implements, tools and fire brigade charges.

Ask yourself whether the cover you had matches the cover you need now. Below is a list of things you should consider:

• Did you employ farm, casual or voluntary labourers or engage with agricultural contractors?
• Do you drive a farm Jeep?
• Did you build, remove, modify or extend existing buildings on the farm?
• Did your livestock increase or decrease?
• Did the farm change ownership?
• Am I protected against farm machinery theft?
• Are my storage and out-buildings secure?
• Did the acreage increase or decrease?
• Did you buy or sell tractors, quads, machinery, trailers, loaders, harvesters, mowers?
• Are the details of my equipment up to date and accurate?
• Do you have an alternative type of enterprise or secondary business on the farm, such as a Guest House, dog grooming or pet kennel, or food manufacturing facility?

Before your policy renewal, discuss these questions with your Sheridan Insurances broker to determine whether the cover you have is sufficient or if you need to update your policy to reflect your changing needs.

Yes! Your policy can provide cover for all your different vehicles, including private cars, commercial vehicles, ATV’s, teleporters and tractors. Even trailers and trailed equipment can be covered as well.