Risk Management Presentation to Corporate Farms

1. Agricultural Transportation Emergencies
LESSON
OVERVIEW
The National Safety Council in 2006 estimates nationwide 15,000 highway accidents
involving farm vehicles and machinery. Ninety per cent of the accidents occurred in
daylight on dry roads and over sixty six per cent of the farm machinery involved was rear
ended by an automobile. “This caused $142,000,000 financial loss for property damage,
bodily injury, hospitalization, lost wages, repairs, sadly fatalities, and cleans up at the site
in the United States” as reported in “Understanding the Public Health Impacts of Farm
Vehicle Public Road Crashes in North Carolina”, Journal of Agricultural Safety and
Health 9(1): 19−32 _ 2003 ASAE ISSN 1074−7583, T. M. Costello, M. D. Schulman, R.
C. Luginbuhl. T. The crash data does not include private passenger vehicles used by
agricultural users for personal use that is not farm production related.
Though data for farm machinery crashes on roadways that led to anhydrous ammonia
spills is not yet fully developed, New York State Health Department alone recorded 107
such incidents in 1998 at least one of which was related to farm machinery on public
highways according to www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/environ/hsees/hsees.htm.
As urban sprawl continues at a rapid pace nationwide, the chances increase daily that
farm tractors or combines on roadways will be involved in accidents. Therefore, this
lesson focuses on the likely highway emergencies agricultural produces will face and
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2. some effective risk management techniques to reduce the chance of highway accidents
for operators of farm machinery.
Instructional Objectives
Upon completion of this lesson, students should be able to:
1. Identify and discuss the types of emergencies that can occur while agricultural
producers are using public roadways.
2. Describe the key steps that agricultural producers’ owners/users can to take to
reduce the potential of highway related accidents.
3. Explain how appropriate insurance coverage can reduce the potential financial
impact of highway emergencies.
4. Articulate specific steps to be taken by agricultural producers owners/users when
highway emergency occurrences involving agricultural machinery.
5. Know and be able to explain basic response strategies to be used for serious spill,
debris, raw products, and leak incidents on public roadways.
6. Identify and explain the risks associated with non production use of agricultural
equipment on public roads.
Instructions
Read and review the contents of the lesson.
Compile a list of emergency phone numbers to call for highway emergencies.
Complete the review questions at the end of the lesson.
Lesson Farm Machinery Road Accidents Jeff Hoon 01/04/2007

3. Lesson Content
1.0 Types of emergencies involving agricultural producers
1.1 Rear end collisions on highways result in serious bodily injury, and
death.
1.2 Spills and Leaks
1.3 Collisions with fixed objects, bridges, and overpasses
1.4 Rail road crossing incidents
1.5 Labor transport fatalities and injuries
1.6 Lost loads and tie down accidents
1.7 Overweight oversize road incidents
1.8 Recreational vehicle crashes ATV snow mobiles utility vehicles
1.9 Livestock, deer, pet crashes and fatalities
2.0 Key Preventative Steps
2.1 Driver selection should require past experience with specific
machine operated, references of past employers, current motor vehicle
driving record from employee and proper licenses and state required
certifications.
2.2 Quarterly to at least annual review of operator skill and training on
equipment with written records on each regular driver operator.
2.3 Equipment condition/ maintenance, reflective signage, lights and
visibility should be carefully inspected before time of use.
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4. 2.4 Inspect and use all safety equipment on your vehicles and machinery
including but not limited to seat belts, mirrors, hitch pins, and
hitch safety chains.
2.5. Equipment maintenance (both vehicle and farm machinery) record
keeping should be maintained in writing.
. 3.0 Importance of appropriate insurance, maintaining the right insurance contract:
3.1 Business Auto Insurance with proper endorsements for mobile
machinery or a general liability policy endorsed for auto liability
should be purchased and maintained.
3.2 Under insured auto liability is leading cause of business failure.
3.3 Not all events are insurable, not all companies have the
same coverage, and some policies may be cost prohibitive
3.4 Companies need a reputable experienced commercial insurance
producer (agent) due to the frequent changes in insurance coverage,
costs, and numerous insurance policies to consider.
3.5 Communication between owner and agent is critical
• Promptly report new equipment purchases to agent in
writing
• Changes in your business operation (fee based farm tours)
• Written claim loss reporting follow up after phone call
• An annual to quarterly review of all policies with agent
• Large operations may need to hire full time risk manager
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5. • Keep list of 24 hour toll free policyholder services handy
when agent is not available
3.6 Put insurance identification card in all road use vehicles and machinery
4.0 Steps to take following an incident
4.1 Call 911 if cell mobile telephone available for bodily injury
4.2 Do not leave the scene of the accident even to go use a phone so stay put
until help arrives.
4.3 Truckers must mark accident site with rectangular reflectors, DOT
requirement
4.4 Once first responders arrive they will take over and tell you what to do.
4.5 Do not make any statements regarding fault.
4.6 Exchange insurance information.
4.7 Notify insurance agent by phone, follow up with written incident letter.
5.0 Response strategies for highway spills and leaks
5.1 Pre plan response for highway emergency spills, leaks, lost loads
5.2 Human life response is first priority
5.3 Turn ignition off. Call 911. Do not leave the scene.
5.4 Contain spill with dirt dikes
5.5 For NH3 releases get away from cloud up wind out of danger zone
and don personal protective equipment and respirator.
6.0 Non production use of agricultural equipment on public roads
6.1 Hay rides given by farm owners for the annual church social group are
usually insured.
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6. 6.2 Hay rides for a fee need to purchase a special commercial insurance
policy. See Flynn case in supplement
6.3 Use of your tractor to go to the grocery store in a blizzard or high water
may or may not cover any bodily injury or property damage liability
even damage to your tractor you cause from that trip
• Discuss this with agent in your semi annual insurance review
• Good Samaritan acts towing stranded motorist
• Pulling motorist out of ditch.
Resources
www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/environ/hsees/hsees.htm
http://www.farmsanctuary.org/campaign/transport_report.htm
http://www.in.gov/isda/harvesttimes/October_05.htm
http://www.nsc.org/library/facts/brake.htm
http://www.agcom.purdue.edu/AgCom/Pubs/S/S-56.htm
http://www.nsc.org/library/facts/blowout.htm
References
“Fleet Safety”, Insurance Institute of America, 720 Providence Road, Malvern PA 19355-
0770, Tel: 610-644-2100; Fax 993-7583, Copyright © International Risk Management
Institute, Inc., or identified Content Provider, www.IRMI.com
National Safety Council, Communications Department, 1121 Spring Lake Dr., Itasca, IL
60143-1121; (630) 285-1315 fax Permission to reprint information from “Fact Sheets”
Lesson Farm Machinery Road Accidents Jeff Hoon 01/04/2007

7. granted by the National Safety Council, a membership organization dedicated to
protecting life and promoting health.
“Understanding the Public Health Impacts of Farm Vehicle Public Road Crashes in North
Carolina”, Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health 9(1): 19−32 _ 2003 ASAE ISSN
1074−7583, T. M. Costello, M. D. Schulman, R. C. Luginbuh.
Review Questions
Match the best pairs available
1.Communication a. Chemical spill agency
2. Rear ended b. PPO
3. Driver selection c. key with insurance agent
4. Equipment Safety check d. each time of use,
5. Legal liability e. 67% cause
6. Scheduled liability activity f. periodic Operating Time (hours)
7. Protecting property after loss g. dike with dirt
8. Accident report h. annual mvr order and review
9. IDEM i. Free church social activity
10. Human life 1st priority j. determined in court of law
11. Chemical spill k. in writing
12. insured hay ride l. Duty
13. Anhyrdous ammonia spill m. Emergency
14. Equipment safety log inspection n. dry road
15. 90 % time 0. for fee hayrides
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8. Answers to Matching Review
1. c.
2. e.
3. h.
4. d.
5. j.
6. o.
7. l.
8. k.
9. a.
10. m.
11. g.
12. i.
13. b.
14. f.
15. n.
Multiple Choice: Choose the best answer.
1. The most frequent agricultural public roadway accident involving farm machinery is:
a. Overturn or upset
b. Operator fatigue
c. Rear ended by other vehicle
d. Night time accidents during harvest time
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9. 2. When selecting drivers of agricultural machinery it is most important to:
a. Do a background check on tickets
b. Review skills with a written test
c. Keep written records
d. Verify the driver has specific experience on the machinery to be used as
well as necessary licenses, certifications, and up to date drivers’ license
3. Besides roadway emergencies other areas of high risk for tractors or combines on
public highways include:
a. The interstate and 6 lane highways
b. Bridges, over passes, and railroad crossing
c. School zones
d. City corporation limits within 1000 feet of schools or hospitals
4. During a road way emergency with farm machinery equipment it is mandatory:
a. not to leave the scene of an accident
b. call 911
c. move your equipment out of the way
d. stay in your cab until help arrives
5. The second leading cause of farm machinery accidents on public roads is:
a. Overturn or upset
b. Operator fatigue
c. Rear ended by other vehicle
d. Night time accidents during harvest time
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10. 6. The reason careful attention to the size of your insurance deductibles is important:
a. Adhesion
b. Law of Large numbers
c. Premium reduction
d. Affordability
7. The reason to purchase insurance on your farm operations is:
a. banks and motor vehicle laws require it
b. liability exposures
c. to continue the operation after the tornado destroys the hog containment building
d. all of the above
8. What is not considered a hazardous chemical spill:
a. milk
b. 11 gallons diesel fuel
c. manure
d. none of the above
Answers to multiple choice:
1. c
2. d
3. b
4. a
5. b
6. d
7. d
8. d
Lesson Farm Machinery Road Accidents Jeff Hoon 01/04/2007

11. Lesson Farm Machinery Road Accidents Jeff Hoon 01/04/2007