Employee wanting to borrow machinery

Bobthebuilder

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
northumberland
If your a competent driver yourself just do it for them that will give them an extra pair of hands anyway, then at least you can see what the job entails and if any worries you can say yes or no
 

lloyd

Member
Location
Herefordshire
It is only a small shed, total of 8 roof trusses I think, probably no more than 4 metres off the floor. Reasonably tight working space with a big machine. Don’t suppose they’ll have any other appropriate gear, eg proper ladders, straps, safety gear etc so can assume other stuff will be borrowed as well. I was happy to nip round there the other day when he rang to ask if I could unload said trusses from the lorry, no mention made at the time that he might want to borrow the teleporter to put them up. Just sprang that on me today and when I said no (because of insurance concerns) he looked very dejected. I have no problem with helping the lad or his father, we have and do get on well. I can just see a small mishap turning into a massive problem. They have nothing to lose whereas I could potentially end up uninsured with a big claim from something going wrong. I think I know what the answer is honestly. Even if I go and do the lifting for them I have a feeling it would be completely uninsured at my own risk, will check the policy.

Give him his Christmas bonus early by paying
for a days hire at a company along with a days insurance.
I know it sounds generous but he might work extra hard when
you need it.
 

Hfd Cattle

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Hereford
Wow..... I bet you didn't expect all these replies !!!
Now what do you do ?
This is why I love the forum it brings on every opinion going and leaves you countless options
 
Everything you do is a risk. If the lad is a good worker take the risk.

If you refuse him the loader for a small job like that it will completely take away any 'over and above' between you and him.

Be different if he was asking you for a kidney!!!
 

Fendt516profi

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Yorkshire
Everything you do is a risk. If the lad is a good worker take the risk.

If you refuse him the loader for a small job like that it will completely take away any 'over and above' between you and him.

Be different if he was asking you for a kidney!!!
Exactly I've worked for a few people and borrowed a tractor or trailer when I've needed a extra one. But then they've just needed a hand not a full days work obviously I've helped no charge not even worth charging but made a big difference to them. Something like going to help move some sheep down road takes no time or effort but makes a big difference to them if they were going to do it alone
 

Ali_Maxxum

Member
Location
Chepstow, Wales
Some of the responses on here to seem to be the reason why some things take an age to get done or never get done at all. Totally understand where everyone is coming from but come on, you scratch my back I'll scratch yours.

Things are very different round this way, either get on with it or the man who owns the machine will just come and do it. Maybe we're too laid back?

Everything you ever do is a risk, hell, you could fall down the stairs tomorrow and break your neck, I'm sure the lad will be fine.
 

bobk

Member
Location
stafford
Our farm employee wants to borrow our JCB to help his Dad put some roof trusses up on a new shed he's building at home.
Don't want to be miserable and say he can't use it, not bothered about the fuel or the hours of use etc. I just really want to make sure we're right with insurance. Massive liability to us if something were to go wrong while he was doing something outside of the business use. Any thoughts?

Easy , lend him the machine but take his own insurance out , commonplace .
 

Highland Mule

Member
Livestock Farmer
Our farm employee wants to borrow our JCB to help his Dad put some roof trusses up on a new shed he's building at home.
Don't want to be miserable and say he can't use it, not bothered about the fuel or the hours of use etc. I just really want to make sure we're right with insurance. Massive liability to us if something were to go wrong while he was doing something outside of the business use. Any thoughts?

Have you called your insurance company yet?
 

Phil P

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
North West
Definitely speak to your insurance even if you go to do the job your self, check your covered for putting up sheds, I’m sure as soon a you use a telehandler for erecting buildings it becomes a mobile crane and has to be insured as such.

It’s all fine until that split second something goes wrong, just ask yourself could your business stand a massive hse fine if the sh!t hits the fan!
 

Fendt

Member
Some useful answers as always. Unfortunately I didn’t get chance to help the lad as he gave me too little notice and borrowed someone else’s teleporter that evening. Don’t get me wrong I agree that I should have just offered my help and gone and done it for him, but he caught me on the hop, I didn’t have the time at that particular moment and he has actually asked for one too many favours just lately.
My gut feeling is still that I would be up sh!t creek without a paddle if I had lent it to him and something had gone wrong. I cannot honestly sit here and say I can take that risk. I have too much to lose. The size of the fines that the HSE can hand out these days along with the cost of any subsequent investigation can absolutely cripple a farming business. I am afraid that it would seem from some of your replies that too many of you are apparently very naive to this, or just prepared to take the risk and hope you get away with it.
 

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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