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If you own and operate a pumpkin patch and/or apple orchard, you know that you need workers to keep your business running smoothly throughout the year. However, when you take on workers, whether they be seasonal or full-time, you are also exposing yourself to certain liabilities. For this reason, it is important to make sure that you have the right type of insurance to protect you.

 

Understanding Apple Orchard/Pumpkin Patch Dangers

Working at an apple orchard and/or pumpkin patch exposes your workers to unique dangers they may not encounter in other types of jobs. Your workers may spend a great deal of time outside, working around machinery or dealing with conditions that are otherwise hazardous. If one of your workers becomes injured while working at your establishment, you may be held responsible. Some of the incidents that may lead to employee injuries include:

  • Tripping over a pumpkin vine or apple tree root
  • Operating a malfunctioning machine
  • Accidents involving tractors and other farm equipment
  • Falling off a ladder

Although you can prevent many employee injuries by taking the proper precautions and ensuring that all employees follow accepted safety protocols, you can’t avoid every incident. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately, 167 agricultural workers in the United States are injured every day.

Responsibilities for Employers of Injured Workers

If one of your workers is injured in an accident at your apple orchard or pumpkin patch, you may be held responsible for the expenses associated with his or her injuries. This means that you may need to pay for the employee’s medical care and replace his or her lost wages. In some cases, employees may even be able to take legal action against your apple orchard or pumpkin patch following an accident at work. Because of this potential for liability, it is important to make sure that you have the coverage you need just in case an incident occurs.

Do I Need Workers’ Compensation Insurance?

The purpose of workers’ compensation insurance http://marineagency.com/business-insurance/workers-compensation-insurance/ coverage is to provide you with access to benefits in the event that one of your workers sustains an injury on the job. This policy will pay for all of the medical treatment your employee needs in order to recover from his or her injury. It will also replace some or all of the employee’s wages until he or she is ready to return to work.

State laws differ with regard to workers’ compensation insurance requirements. In many states, carrying workers’ compensation insurance is mandatory for most employers with a few exceptions. If you fail to purchase workers’ compensation insurance, you may face legal problems, including fines from your state and/or lawsuits from injured employees.

Even if you are exempt from your state’s workers’ compensation insurance requirement, workers’ compensation insurance is still highly recommended. Regardless of your state’s requirements, having an adequate workers’ compensation insurance policies ensures that you will have the resources you need to pay any expenses you incur because of an employee’s injury. Without this type of coverage, you may be forced to pay an injured employee’s expenses out of pocket.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance from Marine Agency

Marine Agency offers workers’ compensation insurance policies to apple orchard and pumpkin patch owners in all states, with the exception of Wyoming, Washington, Ohio and North Dakota. Our policies will not only ensure that you have the coverage you need to pay for your employees’ medical care and lost wages, but they will also ensure that you are in compliance with your state’s workers’ compensation insurance requirements.

To learn more about purchasing workers’ compensation insurance from Marine Agency, please contact us today.

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