Insurers offering H&S consultancy

[MattR]

Our insurers (Cornish Mutual) are offering a health and safety "package" that basically includes a site visit, identification of hazards etc, full risk assessment tailored to our business, H&S policy, environmental policy etc etc, a follow-up farm visit in 6 months and the lady who does it - consultant or whatever the term is - basically being at the end of the phone whenever we need H&S advice etc.

This is £550 but apparently will reduce our farm policy premium by maybe £100.

I have been thinking for a while that I need to get this side of things in order - risk assessments and so on - in case of an accident, but to be honest it seems all a bit of a minefield and part of me is inclined to get it done properly to be on the safe side. £500 ish seems plenty for what it is but maybe in the long run it would be for the best?

I would be interested to know what peoples' thoughts are on this - has anyone on here taken up this particular service for instance? How does it compare to others price-wise? Would it protect me better in the case of an incident than having just done it all myself? Thanks.

 

[e3120]

Is there any risk that you could be worse off if something is recommended but you knowingly or inadvertently don't act on it?

 

[Clive]

Our insurers (Cornish Mutual) are offering a health and safety "package" that basically includes a site visit, identification of hazards etc, full risk assessment tailored to our business, H&S policy, environmental policy etc etc, a follow-up farm visit in 6 months and the lady who does it - consultant or whatever the term is - basically being at the end of the phone whenever we need H&S advice etc.

This is £550 but apparently will reduce our farm policy premium by maybe £100.

I have been thinking for a while that I need to get this side of things in order - risk assessments and so on - in case of an accident, but to be honest it seems all a bit of a minefield and part of me is inclined to get it done properly to be on the safe side. £500 ish seems plenty for what it is but maybe in the long run it would be for the best?

I would be interested to know what peoples' thoughts are on this - has anyone on here taken up this particular service for instance? How does it compare to others price-wise? Would it protect me better in the case of an incident than having just done it all myself? Thanks.

you would hope the reduction in premiums would cover the cost ? it’s certainly very much in the underwriters interest that you do this

@Nigel Wellings ?

 

[MattR]

Is there any risk that you could be worse off if something is recommended but you knowingly or inadvertently don't act on it?

It's an interesting point, I really don't know

you would hope the reduction in premiums would cover the cost ? it’s certainly very much in the underwriters interest that you do this

@Nigel Wellings ?

Yes it's certainly in their interests, although I wonder how much of this sort of thing is just a paperwork exercise to cover yourself/stay within the law and how much it really contributes to improved safety and reduction of accidents.

What do other people do? I'm guessing a lot of the big farmers/contractors/agribusinesses are on top of all this stuff a lot better than some of us smaller ones?

 

[Still Farming]

Our insurers (Cornish Mutual) are offering a health and safety "package" that basically includes a site visit, identification of hazards etc, full risk assessment tailored to our business, H&S policy, environmental policy etc etc, a follow-up farm visit in 6 months and the lady who does it - consultant or whatever the term is - basically being at the end of the phone whenever we need H&S advice etc.

This is £550 but apparently will reduce our farm policy premium by maybe £100.

I have been thinking for a while that I need to get this side of things in order - risk assessments and so on - in case of an accident, but to be honest it seems all a bit of a minefield and part of me is inclined to get it done properly to be on the safe side. £500 ish seems plenty for what it is but maybe in the long run it would be for the best?

I would be interested to know what peoples' thoughts are on this - has anyone on here taken up this particular service for instance? How does it compare to others price-wise? Would it protect me better in the case of an incident than having just done it all myself? Thanks.

Surly all assurance schemes check most things too???

 

[MattR]

Surly all assurance schemes check most things too???

As in Red Tractor?
Nope, not mine. They want to see a H&S policy but its basically a quick glance at a few pages printed off some template stuffed in the back of a folder to which they say "oh yeah you've got something written down" and that's about it. No serious look around the place at potential hazards etc

 

[jon9000]

Nfu wanted to do us... 1000 quid job with potential saving in the next 3 years to pay for..... after much thought I declined... although I take h and s very seriously I thought the money better spent on signs, ppe two way radios in cabs etc etc.... rather than a load of waffle that no one will read, to cover my arse....

 

[kiwi pom]

Our insurers (Cornish Mutual) are offering a health and safety "package" that basically includes a site visit, identification of hazards etc, full risk assessment tailored to our business, H&S policy, environmental policy etc etc, a follow-up farm visit in 6 months and the lady who does it - consultant or whatever the term is - basically being at the end of the phone whenever we need H&S advice etc.

This is £550 but apparently will reduce our farm policy premium by maybe £100.

I have been thinking for a while that I need to get this side of things in order - risk assessments and so on - in case of an accident, but to be honest it seems all a bit of a minefield and part of me is inclined to get it done properly to be on the safe side. £500 ish seems plenty for what it is but maybe in the long run it would be for the best?

I would be interested to know what peoples' thoughts are on this - has anyone on here taken up this particular service for instance? How does it compare to others price-wise? Would it protect me better in the case of an incident than having just done it all myself? Thanks.

What makes you think that paying someone 500 quid will get things in order? It certainly won't let you pass the buck if you get caught out on something. They could advise you to do all sorts of things, you'll still have to do and pay for everything.
Best to just educate yourself or a staff member and crack on if you're serious about being safe.
Don't let these 'services' get a foothold they'll be compulsory for everyone before you know it.

 

[MattR]

What makes you think that paying someone 500 quid will get things in order?

I don't exactly think that it would.

I can however see some benefit from having an independent "expert" (for want of a better term, at least someone who hopefully knows what they're talking about) having a proper look around and identifying hazards I might have overlooked or rules I might not know about that apply to say certain bits of equipment ("you should have that tested annually and have a ticket for it, did you know that?" etc). And having the paperwork done correctly with no omissions.

The cost however seems a lot for what it is. Maybe just do it for a year to get all the paperwork/info/advise then sack it off and continue on my own?

 

[deleted user 436632456]

I was always told that you should never take H&S advice from an insurance company by my old NEBOSCH instructor.... but I do think that these farm packs are trying to help. I do think these insurers are trying to provide basic knowledge and information to reduce farm accidents and it's not just a customer shafting exercise which isn't a good business model anyway.

You do have to pay attention to what they write and advise though.. I have seen some howlers on NFU safety packs which I believe were written by someone who didn't understand the farm or the overall business. (Have also seen some great forgetting to change names etc from the template version).

I would highly recommend that you search for "IOSH Managing Safety" course, it's about £140 online and will give you a good knowledge base for H&S. Phil Hughes and Ed Ferrett's "Introduction to Health and Safety at Work" is a great reference book.

It's hard to say if £500 is value or not without knowing the specifics.. It's great value if you are getting a complete bespoke package but if they're just going to change a few things on a pre made template then it's not.

 

[Nearly]

NFU cut and pasted a report for our previous company 15 years ago (4 staff) which covered our (and their) arses.
I should just change the business name on the front if I was bothered. (partnership - no staff)

 

[Woldgrain Storage]

I can however see some benefit from having an independent "expert" (for want of a better term, at least someone who hopefully knows what they're talking about) having a proper look around and identifying hazards I might have overlooked or rules I might not know about that apply to say certain bits of equipment ("you should have that tested annually and have a ticket for it, did you know that?" etc). And having the paperwork done correctly with no omissions.

We do this with our insurer. It has been very helpful to have a fresh pair of eyes looking at the business.

 

[Nigel Wellings]

I personally dont agree with H& S advice from insurers. They are not independent and how do you know if they find something on farm they don't like it wont just be relayed back to Underwriters.
Too many of these H & S Consultants use tick box surveys that as previously mentioned they then produce pro forma policies whilst just changing the farm name and address, Whilst charging strong money for it. If you want to use an external consultant(which I feel is a good idea)- find an independent one that tailors the policy to your individual farm. Do not then just leave it on the shelf gathering dust (if you do you are wasting your time) but bring it to the full attention of employees and contractors and turn it into a practical working document.
Be wary of Insurance discounts for such policies/packages- it all has to be paid for somewhere.
It is in your own best interests to have such a policy but as @Eden.Agri.AD says you may be the best person to do it with a little training.