The Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA) estimates that the value of sales of agricultural machinery in the UK reached around £2.2 billion in 2021*. That is more than 10% higher than in 2019, and almost 20% higher than in 2020 when there was a dip in sales due to Covid-19 and Brexit uncertainty. That number is only expected to grow as the demand for food increases and inflation continues to impact, including those in the agricultural industry.

With machines already costing a hefty amount and being needed throughout the year to keep rural businesses running and the country fed, it is crucial that they are properly inspected and maintained. Doing so can help prevent accidents, claims, operations downtime, and expensive repairs.

Agricultural vehicle and machinery inspection checklist

So, what exactly should you be looking for in an agricultural vehicle and machinery inspection? With help from our partner, Safety Revolution’s, MeritAgCheck app, we have put together a helpful checklist for you to use next time you are performing an inspection on your equipment.

Are my machines in overall good condition?

Machines which are in a visually poor condition are more likely to attract attention from the authorities and may lead to consequential action if defects are found. Keeping them in good condition also preserves their resale value and, naturally, reduces machine down time.

Do my machines have vital safety components missing or are they damaged?

If your machinery is missing vital safety components or they are damaged, you could be liable for negligence if an accident occurs. Keeping the safety components of a machine, such as guards and warning devices, operational and secure helps protect you and those working around the machine from harm. Examples of safety components include PTO guards, warning stickers, handrails, beacons, and mudguards.

Are my vehicles’ tyres in good condition, with adequate tread and are they free from damage?

Tyres which are left to deteriorate with a low tread, exposed reinforcement cable, punctures, or damage, are at a much higher risk of failing on the road. Neglected tyres have the potential to cause accidents or injury to bystanders, or even machinery roll over if travelling at speed.

Do my vehicles and machinery have working lights and indicators?

If your vehicle or machine is fitted with lights, then they should always be working. Lights improve your ability to see as well as the chances of you being seen. In circumstances where vehicles, such as forklifts, and machines are used inside buildings (for example, for grain stores), it is even more important to maintain clear and visible lighting.

Are the brakes on my vehicles and machinery working as they should be?

Brakes on agricultural machines are often overlooked, but why should they be when these vehicles carry such heavy loads and travel at higher speeds than they ever have before? Brakes are connected to a system of moving parts and when one component is damaged it begins to affect others, which can become more and more costly to fix. When brake pads wear down, they begin to risk damage to brake rotors. Monetary cost is, of course, an issue however the danger to life is one that money can’t fix, and the chances of a collision or loss of control are very high. Ensure you check your brakes, especially on farm trailers following a busy harvest, as a lot can change with a couple of months of relentless use, and your brakes are likely to have worn down,

Are the hitches and couplings secure and safe on my machinery?

Between a tractor and trailer, there is one thing connecting them – the hitch. If the hitch becomes damaged or faulty, the outcomes can be fatal. Ensure you check your hitches and couplings and see that they are free from cracks, damage, or excessive wear. If in doubt, log the defect in the MeritAgCheck app and have it checked. Checking the electrical plugs and hydraulic hoses are also important to make sure they are well maintained and working as they should be.

Are my machines suitably greased and lubricated?

Keeping your machinery greased appropriately has endless benefits, such as improving its performance and effectiveness, protecting and prolonging its lifespan, and lowering the cost of its maintenance. Lubricating your machinery will help towards reducing wear, corrosion, inefficiency from effort and energy the machine is using to work as it should, maintenance when it comes to fixing issues relating to lubrication, and even the next inspection. Using the MeritAgCheck app you can even keep a record of the machine’s maintenance and ensure components are greased at the appropriate intervals.

We hope our checklist will help towards not only improving the safety of your machinery but also minimising the costs incurred by repairs and reducing the impact of knock-on ‘snowballing’ issues. Regular checks and interventions will help you to manage the problem right from the start, instead of dealing with a larger dilemma caused by machine neglect.

Now is the time

Looking back at the history and traditions of the harvesting season, right now, we would be near approaching the end of the season. 29th September would signify the end of harvest as “it used to be said that harvest had to be completed by Michaelmas, almost like the marking of the end of the productive season and the beginning of the new cycle of farming.”⁽¹⁾

We all know that farmers have a lot of work to do and often don’t have a lot of time to spare, but as we are getting toward the end of the season and are becoming a little less busy, with the bulk of the year’s work having been done, now is the opportunistic time to inspect your vehicles and machinery, especially considering LOLER and PUWER inspections are a legal requirement.

LOLER and PUWER regulations

These regulations are in place to help prevent injuries and fatalities and puts responsibilities and duties on individuals, businesses and organisations, who use or control equipment, vehicles and machinery, whether owned by them or not.

Regular LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998) inspections are required at least every 6 or 12 months, depending on what type of lifting equipment is being used**. The HSE (Health & Safety Executive) give guidance on what a ‘thorough examination’ looks like by a ‘competent person’ under LOLER, as well as when examinations should be carried out, how reports should be kept, and much more, here.

To ensure that work equipment meets the three legal requirements of PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998), you must make sure that they are suitable for use, maintained in a safe condition, and inspected to continue to be safe for use***.

Our partners are here to help you

Safety Revolution

To help you document and keep tabs on your inspections, why not use the MeritAgCheck app designed by our partner, Safety Revolution?

Safety Revolution are the UK’s leading specialists in health and safety and risk reduction for farms, estates and agricultural businesses. Safety Revolution’s innovative MeritAgCheck app has been purposefully built to help rural businesses record their vehicle and equipment checks. The app helps fulfil legal LOLER and PUWER requirements as it records machinery checks, defects and servicing, to ensure compliance and establish safer practices around machinery use.

The MeritAgCheck app is available to anyone and easily downloadable from the App Store and Play Store. To find out what farming and agricultural businesses can benefit from, click here, and to register your interest for a demo of the app, please click here.

Engineering Safety Inspection Services Ltd (ESIS)

If you are looking for help with inspections, we work with statutory inspection specialists, ESIS.

Certain equipment and plant items require statutory inspection under the Health & Safety at Work Act (HSWA) 1974. ESIS provides lifting equipment inspections, pressure systems inspections, PUWER inspections, local exhaust ventilation inspections, and portable appliance testing. Through ESIS, we have access to nationwide independent UKAS accredited specialists that are able to offer an inspection service carried out either annually or 6 monthly, depending on the item.

Want to know more?

If you’re interested in knowing more about any of the options above, please give our dedicated Farm Team a call on 01653 609152 or email them at farm@mcclarroninsurance.com. If you’d prefer, you can fill out the form below.