LOLER certificates for tractor and loader

[Muddyroads]

We don’t employ any staff but were told by our insurers today that our tractor and loader needs to have a LOLER certificate. Does anyone else do this?

 

[neilo]

We don’t employ any staff but were told by our insurers today that our tractor and loader needs to have a LOLER certificate. Does anyone else do this?

No. I’ve checked with my insurers and they don’t require it, but do recommend it.

 

[Devil's advocate]

Had mine dealer serviced.

I said to the engineer, I don't like that pipe going to the bucket. He said Oh its fine might go next week, might last five years.

I took it off & at the hydrauclic supplies shop they told me it was an accident waiting to happen.

 

[Muddyroads]

No. I’ve checked with my insurers and they don’t require it, but do recommend it.

That’s what I was hoping, but the HSE say this

 

[Hilly]

My pall was going to do loler , his mother works in insurance and said not to , apparently the way to do it open a ltd company do as many loers as you dare then bankrupt the company and when there is an accident no claim as your bust and on another company doing more lolers ! What a carry on .

 

[neilo]

That’s what I was hoping, but the HSE say this

That still doesn’t mean that a LOLER test is required for your insurance, or to be legal, unless you employ folk.

 

[Jackov Altraids]

"While thorough examination of tractor foreloaders will not normally be necessary, a regular check of a foreloader’s hydraulic hoses and mounting points for attachments should be part of normal safe operation and maintenance. However, you should assess your work equipment and working practices for the risks involved and decide which items need thorough examination in your particular circumstances."

From;

https://warwick.ac.uk/services/healthsafetywellbeing/guidance/lifting_equipment/how_loler_applies_to_agriculture_2.pdf

 

[Muddyroads]

That still doesn’t mean that a LOLER test is required for your insurance, or to be legal, unless you employ folk.

That’s what I’d like to get to the bottom of. My guess is that you may not need one by law, but if anything goes wrong, you’ll be expected to have one.

 

[neilo]

"While thorough examination of tractor foreloaders will not normally be necessary, a regular check of a foreloader’s hydraulic hoses and mounting points for attachments should be part of normal safe operation and maintenance. However, you should assess your work equipment and working practices for the risks involved and decide which items need thorough examination in your particular circumstances."

From;

https://warwick.ac.uk/services/healthsafetywellbeing/guidance/lifting_equipment/how_loler_applies_to_agriculture_2.pdf

That sounds dangerously like common sense…

 

[Muddyroads]

"While thorough examination of tractor foreloaders will not normally be necessary, a regular check of a foreloader’s hydraulic hoses and mounting points for attachments should be part of normal safe operation and maintenance. However, you should assess your work equipment and working practices for the risks involved and decide which items need thorough examination in your particular circumstances."

From;

https://warwick.ac.uk/services/healthsafetywellbeing/guidance/lifting_equipment/how_loler_applies_to_agriculture_2.pdf

Which suggests that my insurers are wrong.

 

[Pan mixer]

Expense aside of the tests and the things that they reveal, it is quite comforting to have an MOT on my truck and car every year to make sure that it is safe to drive and that everything works.

Similarly for the Loler tests on my loaders although I am annoyed that they will ground one if that stupid piece of plastic paper on the dash board is missing for whatever reason.

 

[Jackov Altraids]

Which suggests that my insurers are wrong.

That document is from 2007 [I think]
I don't think the rules have changed since then but their interpretation might have.
I had this argument when insured with the NFU. They accepted it didn't apply because there would not be anyone within the 'working area' of the lifting equipment.
Changed insurers and it hasn't been mentioned by any of the others.

 

[gone up the hill]

We don’t employ any staff but were told by our insurers today that our tractor and loader needs to have a LOLER certificate. Does anyone else do this?

Would that be NFU Mutual?

You said you do not employ anyone but from your photos you have people picking veg near the the tractor and loader, you may not pay them cash but in kind ie free veg etc but would still be classed as staff if something went wrong!

 

[Muddyroads]

Would that be NFU Mutual?

You said you do not employ anyone but from your photos you have people picking veg near the the tractor and loader, you may not pay them cash but in kind ie free veg etc but would still be classed as staff if something went wrong!

Cornish Mutual.
I wish we did only pay them in kind!!
They are all casual staff who invoice us and don’t come into any contact with the tractor and loader, but I take your point.

 

[gone up the hill]

Cornish Mutual.
I wish we did only pay them in kind!!
They are all casual staff who invoice us and don’t come into any contact with the tractor and loader, but I take your point.

Problem i guess is that they could come into contact with the tractor and loader, does not matter if they are SE/ casual etc if something went wrong you would still be classed as an employer.

 

[Muddyroads]

Problem i guess is that they could come into contact with the tractor and loader, does not matter if they are SE/ casual etc if something went wrong you would still be classed as an employer.

We certainly have a duty of care but I’m not sure that many farms have LOLER certified tractors with loaders.

 

[Mur Huwcun]

We’ve always interpreted it that although you can have a thorough inspection done on a tractor and loader but the loader itself can’t have a ‘LOLER’ certificate as it can be moved from tractor to tractor therefore won’t have an SWL and can be safe on the tractor it was inspected on but could be on a worn out heap the next day or even ten minutes after the certificate was issued.

 

[gone up the hill]

We certainly have a duty of care but I’m not sure that many farms have LOLER certified tractors with loaders.

Yes i would agree with that ref loader tractors and the Loler tests, insurance company's are pushing them like they are pushing for all trailers etc to be inspected yearly.

The problem is the money is not in the job to pay for all these checks/ tests etc

 

[kill]

We don’t employ any staff but were told by our insurers today that our tractor and loader needs to have a LOLER certificate. Does anyone else do this?

Told exactly the same yesterday by a CMA staff member . Also told that if have HSE on farm if an accident occurs hse are charging the business owner £150 odd an hour for their time and a LOLER certificate can soon pay for itself as it covers the paper trail they do require also keep a file of any servicing that’s done to any machine.

 

[Muddyroads]

Told exactly the same yesterday by a CMA staff member . Also told that if have HSE on farm if an accident occurs hse are charging the business owner £150 odd an hour for their time and a LOLER certificate can soon pay for itself as it covers the paper trail they do require also keep a file of any servicing that’s done to any machine.

It would be interesting to know if it’s the same staff member. Given that H&S is supposed to revolve around risk assessments these days, I’ve done that in the context of our jobs and equipment and fail to see how a certificated loader is going to make any difference here.