Forestry is a rugged and dangerous business that often requires workers to trek into hazardous terrain. Forestry operators and managers who deal with equipment in remote and challenging environments should focus on securing comprehensive protection and insurance before they set out for a job, as the potential financial ramifications of being ill-prepared are often significant enough to shut down a business entirely if paid out of pocket.
For well-planned excursions, forestry equipment insurance is non-negotiable, so let’s explore effective strategies for protecting forestry equipment in remote and rugged terrains. Here’s how forestry insurance works and the preventative measures that forestry operators can expect from a policy.
Understanding the Unique Risks in Forestry Operations
Forestry workers face challenges and risks unique to this industry. Because employees operate forestry equipment in remote areas surrounded by combustibles and uneven terrain, equipment is regularly at risk of damage or total loss.
The most common risk to forestry equipment comes from fire, which typically results in the need to replace a machine entirely. Powerful, hot engines coming into contact with wood chips, branches, and sawdust are a recipe for disaster on many job sites.
The second most frequent risk for forestry equipment comes from the uneven terrain. Machinery that sinks, rolls, or slips from a high place is often unsalvageable, requiring full replacement (and potentially injuring workers on the way down).
Essential Preventative Measures for Equipment Safety
While Mother Nature will always pose a threat, team leaders can enact practical preventative strategies to safeguard forestry equipment against common hazards in challenging environments.
Properly managing the job site is one essential method; remove wood chips and flammable debris regularly to sequester it from hot equipment. To prevent slips and rollovers, carefully mark the work area, noting potential hazards.
Do not drive machinery over logs or gaps that could destabilize it, and train employees on properly using equipment—even if using it properly takes longer.
It is also important for forestry companies to regularly conduct maintenance on equipment to keep it in good working order so that it can handle the daily tasks of the job site.
Clean combustible accumulation, such as grease and hydraulic fluid, regularly. Refuel and repair machinery away from the work site, and when shutting down a machine for maintenance, allow it to cool completely before beginning work.
Navigating Forestry Equipment Insurance Options
Choosing the right insurance coverage that aligns with the unique risks of forestry operations is just as important as investing in high-quality equipment and experienced workers. Some policies to consider include:
- Inland Marine – The job site is not the only location that poses a risk to your equipment. During transit or storage, forestry equipment is still vulnerable to fires, vandalism, and theft, which could compromise its performance once it arrives on the job. Inland marine insurance protects forestry machines during these off-site scenarios.
- Commercial Auto – The fellers, bunchers, and saws are not the only machines forestry businesses rely on to do the job. Tractors, service trucks, and more can be protected by a commercial auto policy that pays for physical damage to the vehicles.
- Machinery and Equipment – Machinery and equipment insurance is key for more specialized equipment. It can cover the items unique to forestry work, such as sawmills and logging tools, paying for damage or breakdown repair.
Case Studies: Lessons from Real-World Forestry Equipment Losses
Many examples of forestry equipment damage exist, as reported by OSHA. In one instance, a feller buncher operating in the Lake States region suffered a blown hydraulic hose, which leaked flammable liquid onto the hot machine and started a fire. Despite multiple fire extinguishers on the job site, the feller could not be saved, and the company did not hold equipment insurance.
Thus, the full cost of replacing the feller buncher fell to the business, which suffered severe financial losses. If this logging company had purchased machinery and equipment insurance, it could have recouped most or all of the cost of the feller buncher and replaced it quickly with minimal fiscal impact.
Secure Your Forestry Operations with Burton & Company
Protecting forestry equipment in challenging terrains is as important as investing in proper protection and education to keep workers safe. For forestry operators, robust insurance coverage is an important decision that is best made with the assistance of an experienced insurance company versed in policies targeted toward the forestry and logging industries.
The professionals at Burton & Company can help you identify the specialized forestry equipment insurance solutions that are right for your business’s specific risks and operations. Contact Burton & Company to schedule an appointment and build a blend of insurance protection to secure your business.
