Towergate has teamed up with BAGMA, the trade association
representing UK agricultural and garden machinery dealers, to
promote a farm vehicle health check scheme.
Agriculture continues to have the worst health & safety
record, which is not going unnoticed.
While the Department of Transport have decided not to
implement an ‘MOT’ on agricultural vehicles, the Health &
Safety Executive have declared that more roadside checks are
required.
Failure to meet the required standard could lead to the use of
the vehicle being prohibited and possible prosecutions for breaches
of PUWER regulations.
So, this new scheme allows the farmer or any competent person
appointed by the owner to complete a simple
checklist.
The checklist is designed to help the user ensure the relevant
vehicle is correctly and safely maintained.
With this “proactive” check in operation, the farmer increases
his chances of preventing damage to vehicles before it occurs,
saving time and money - and hopefully it helps to reduce the
depreciation rate on the vehicles.
In summary, the farmer implementing this
scheme benefits from:
- compliance with health
& safety legislation – so reducing the chance and impact of
prosecution reducing the possibility of the vehicles causing
accidents
- ‘proactive’ rather than
‘reactive’ vehicle maintenance programme
- potentially saving time and
money
We are not insisting on farmers participating. However, we
believe, and trust this vehicle health check scheme is of benefit
to your clients - and we hope you will actively encourage farmers
to implement the system.
All policyholders will receive notification of this scheme
with their renewals and instructions to contact you for further
details.
More information and checklist pads can be obtained from Jon
Hipkin on 07730 981311 or by visiting the
BAGMA
website
