​Safety Guidelines to Follow, When You Own Or Operate A Farm.  Part Two: Theft Protection

We are going to run a new series that Markel is working on; Guidelines to follow when you own or operate an Equestrian Farm Property. For every threat of a mishap, there’s usually a simple safety measure that you can apply to eliminate or drastically reduce the possibility of an accident. However, you have to make sure you are looking in all the right places for possible pitfalls. The following safety tips can help you to reduce accidents and even save lives, but their effectiveness will depend on how frequently you use them – and on how well you communicate to others on your premises the importance of using them too.

Successful Safety Program

A successful safety program requires consistent supervision and planning. While these checklists do not take the place of the advice given by fire and police departments, utility specialists, and other trained professionals, they will provide suggestions for what to look for and how to establish your own safety program.

Besides saving lives and protecting property, using these guidelines can help you qualify for lower insurance premiums. Insurance costs less for people who use safety guidelines because they have fewer losses. While safety can help you save money on your premium, insurance remains a necessity for every farm and business. Liability and property coverage help to protect your assets and keep you in business in the event of a loss. Markel can provide this protection.
In week two, we will cover: Theft Protection

Theft Protection

1. Central station burglar alarms or a local (loud) alarm should be installed on premises.
2. Proper outdoor lighting of premises is recommended. Motion sensor lights are best.
3. A nightly barn check at sporadic times can help reduce theft.
4. The phone number for the local and state police should be displayed near all telephones.
5. Machinery, equipment, or tack should be routinely locked at night. Don’t leave keys in vehicles. Secure all keys when not in use.
6. Keys to buildings, equipment, and locked areas should be monitored carefully and given out to reliable employees only. Avoid duplicates, and change locks when needed.
7. Complete a written or video inventory and log serial numbers for easy identification if necessary. Prominently label laptops and computers with personal identification to discourage theft. You may want to consider installing tracking software for business related laptops.

Personal Attention

HorsesDaily's Mary Phelps (mary@horsesdaily.com) is a Markel Equine Insurance Specialist and CSR Tracey Scharf (tracey.scharf@markel.com) provide the personal attention needed to help make the lives of their clients smooth and easy when it comes to the process of insuring your Farm, business and equine mortality needs. While Mary travels to the shows and barns, you can count on Tracey in the office to be available to answer questions and manage the details with ease. 1-800-572-3286.

This document is intended for general information purposes only, and should not be construed as advice or opinions on any specific facts or circumstances. The content of this document is made available on an “as is” basis, without warranty of any kind. This document can’t be assumed to contain every acceptable safety and compliance procedures or that additional procedures might not be appropriate under the circumstances. Markel does not guarantee that this information is or can be relied on for compliance with any law or regulation, assurance against preventable losses, or freedom from legal liability. This publication is not intended to be legal, underwriting, or any other type of professional advice. Persons requiring advice should consult an independent adviser. Markel does not guarantee any particular outcome and makes no commitment to update any information herein, or remove any items that are no longer accurate or complete. Furthermore, Markel does not assume any liability to any person or organization for loss or damage caused by or resulting from any reliance placed on that content.

*Markel Specialty is a business division of Markel Service, Incorporated, the underwriting manager for the Markel affiliated insurance companies. © 2022 Markel Service, Incorporated. All rights reserved.