Shearing Contractor Insurance

[LukeMcCullagh]

Hi All,

I am picking up some shearing jobs of my own this year.

So far only been small pet flocks but getting a fair few. Just wondering who everyone uses for insurance when shearing.

 

[David1968]

You mean personal injury insurance? @spin cycle

 

[LukeMcCullagh]

So Agricultural Contractor insurance, my missus has pointed out that at the moment I am getting mostly pet flocks and worries if one keels over on me wouldn't be covered.

I know with bigger flocks and proper farmers they know the risk and as long as no major cuts would probably let it go just not as sure with the smaller lot.

 

[spin cycle]

I don't think you need insurance for accidentally cutting a ewe but some basic public liability would be a good idea .....y'know I'd you inadvertently swung and clipped a customer with the shears or summat

I mean some customers can be right numpties

 

[Hill Ground]

Ring up whoever does your other insurance, ask for a quote for public liability insurance, with shearing listed in the small print.

I've got cover for any individual animal up to £7k after I nearly had a very expensive tup die on the board.

If your self employed a bit of public liability whatever your doing is a good idea, just in case!!

Edit: I've never actually had to claim for anything.....yet!!

 

[Agrivator]

If a ewe dies while being shorn, I have almost always accepted it as 'just one of those things, and have never even thought of making a claim. In fact, it would probably cause a permanent rift with the shearer.

But there are some shearers who are to blame, but that's just the luck of the draw.

But a shearer should obviously have insurance, even if its just to cover running over the customer's pet duck as you tear through the farmyard.

 

[LukeMcCullagh]

I don't think you need insurance for accidentally cutting a ewe but some basic public liability would be a good idea .....y'know I'd you inadvertently swung and clipped a customer with the shears or summat

I mean some customers can be right numpties

All the ones I have dealt with have been spot on.

Ring up whoever does your other insurance, ask for a quote for public liability insurance, with shearing listed in the small print.

I've got cover for any individual animal up to £7k after I nearly had a very expensive tup die on the board.

If your self employed a bit of public liability whatever your doing is a good idea, just in case!!

Edit: I've never actually had to claim for anything.....yet!!

I haven't got any insurance just house, car and Life. I have enquired with NFU who say it isn't really something they do if I haven't got other stuff to ensure and H&H which say they do public liability and a competenent care insurance which would cover animals I was handling at the time.

If a ewe dies while being shorn, I have almost always accepted it as 'just one of those things, and have never even thought of making a claim. In fact, it would probably cause a permanent rift with the shearer.

But there are some shearers who are to blame, but that's just the luck of the draw.

But a shearer should obviously have insurance, even if its just to cover running over the customer's pet duck as you tear through the farmyard.

Well that is how I would hope most people would be as it sometimes can't be helped but I would hold my hands up straight away if I caused it with a serious cut in the milk vein or any other vital parts.
But just makes my wife a bit nervous as the people I have jobs from are all small holders or new to sheep. Oh and a college has asked me to go and do 7 they have while the students watch.

 

[spin cycle]

I think if you contract someone to shear your sheep you accept some risk viz the animal .....unless it turns into a bloodbath or you spill someone's custard

I'll ask my nfu ins sec. ..she'll know

 

[LukeMcCullagh]

I think if you contract someone to shear your sheep you accept some risk viz the animal .....unless it turns into a bloodbath or you spill someone's custard

I'll ask my nfu ins sec. ..she'll know

Cheers spin, well that is what I have always thought but my better half is a bit more of a worrier about these things than me.

 

[Hill Ground]

Cheers spin, well that is what I have always thought but my better half is a bit more of a worrier about these things than me.

What other self employed work do you do alongside your shearing??

 

[LukeMcCullagh]

What other self employed work do you do alongside your shearing??

None I work full time and a contracted job and a bit of part time evening and weekend work on a farm.

 

[Hill Ground]

None I work full time and a contracted job and a bit of part time evening and weekend work on a farm.

Ah, I see. A whole policy for a bit of weekend shearing does seem over the top.

The trouble will be the risk to the insurers is virtually nil, but there is always admin charges that will make the policy a few hundred ££ however minimal the risk.

 

[LukeMcCullagh]

Ah, I see. A whole policy for a bit of weekend shearing does seem over the top.

The trouble will be the risk to the insurers is virtually nil, but there is always admin charges that will make the policy a few hundred ££ however minimal the risk.

Yes it does to begin with but I am hoping to build it up to a full time thing so might be worth it in the long run. Hopefully it is a reasonable amount and I suppose at least I am covered. One of the people has said they can do short run policies just to cover the season which might cut the costs.

To be fair I really just love shearing and just want to do as much I can. Hopefully the jobs I already have booked will cover the cost

 

[Hill Ground]

A friend of mine who used to work at a brokers told me it's always cheaper to take the years policy, pay it, then cancel it part way through and get a refund rather than do a short term policy ..... just so you know!!

 

[tepapa]

Seen plenty of sheep drop dead whilst shearing. Only one was through a shearing accident where a shearer caught the jugular with a very sharp pointy comb. You could blame that on the shearer but the majority of the others are heart attacks on the board. These almost always happen on full bellied sheep that haven't been fasted and can be particularly worse on hot days. Had one farm lose three ewes one day, since then they have always emptied them and brought them into shed the night before and haven't lost one since.
Had a Welsh ram die one day but he had pasteurella/pneumonia and obviously shearing him affected his breathing but farmer wanted to try.

 

[LukeMcCullagh]

Seen plenty of sheep drop dead whilst shearing. Only one was through a shearing accident where a shearer caught the jugular with a very sharp pointy comb. You could blame that on the shearer but the majority of the others are heart attacks on the board. These almost always happen on full bellied sheep that haven't been fasted and can be particularly worse on hot days. Had one farm lose three ewes one day, since then they have always emptied them and brought them into shed the night before and haven't lost one since.
Had a Welsh ram die one day but he had pasteurella/pneumonia and obviously shearing him affected his breathing but farmer wanted to try.

I have asked all of the ones I have booked to bring the sheep in to fast. Hopefully they listen, they are only really small. 2 to 10 sheep so hopefully easy for them to do

 

[LukeMcCullagh]

A friend of mine who used to work at a brokers told me it's always cheaper to take the years policy, pay it, then cancel it part way through and get a refund rather than do a short term policy ..... just so you know!!

That is worth knowing I, hopefully the prices aren't to extortionate.

 

[carbonfibre farmer]

I have asked all of the ones I have booked to bring the sheep in to fast. Hopefully they listen, they are only really small. 2 to 10 sheep so hopefully easy for them to do

Better keep spinneys off my peas before you do them!

 

[tepapa]

I have asked all of the ones I have booked to bring the sheep in to fast. Hopefully they listen, they are only really small. 2 to 10 sheep so hopefully easy for them to do

I should have said, if the farmers don't want to bother fasting them then I'm not going to worry if they die on the board.

 

[hill shepherd]

I'd get some public liability insurance if I was you, thought it was a legal requirement for self employed folk