Many insurers sell butchers' liability policies, and some butchers wonder why they should have it.
Numerous other butchers know they should have liability insurance, but aren't sure which type of liability cover should have priority.
Types of insurance cover There are numerous types of insurance cover available to butchers.
Some are more essential to a butcher than others.
However, most butchers consider public liability, employers' liability, and product liability insurance as being the highest priorities.
Other useful policies include: o Buildings (all risks) o Business interruption o Contents including engineering breakdown o Goods in transit o Loss of licence o Loss of money o Personal accident (assault) Butchers can't always afford all the available types of cover, so they need to prioritize them.
Employers' liability cover is compulsory if you employ anyone else, so it has to be a high priority.
Generally, liability types of cover should have higher priority than non-liability types of cover.
However, the priorities for insurance cover should always be based upon what risks and hazards that you've discovered while conducting a risk management assessment.
Why have insurance covers Owners and managers of butcher shops are legally and morally responsible for safeguarding the health and well-being of the employees while they are at work.
They must also safeguard the health and well-being of anyone else who enters the shop, uses the butcher's services, or consumes their products.
The butcher will certainly also want to protect his or her own health and well-being.
However, butcher shops and their products can be very dangerous.
All meat processing employment is considered to be among the most hazardous types of employment.
Despite all the safety precautions that might be taken, it's highly probable that eventually someone will be injured, become ill, or may even die.
Butchers and their employees are exposed to the risks of deep cuts, accidental amputation, and infections from bacteria on a daily basis.
The staff is also exposed to working at height hazards while doing routine maintenance such changing a light bulb or setting up a display.
Additionally, the butcher and the staff are exposed to cleaning chemicals that can cause skin irritations, breathing problems, or eye damage.
In addition, the butcher and the staff can unknowingly be exposed to defective or faulty equipment, appliances, and building wiring.
The butcher, the staff, and the customers can all accidentally be exposed to fires, floods, smoke inhalation, or violence and threatening behaviour.
Everyone who enters a butcher shop can be risking falls on slippery or greasy floors, or getting E.
coli from tainted products.
Moreover, butchers and their staff risk injuries and illnesses due to lifting heavy objects or performing repetitive tasks.
Numerous butchers have been sued, imprisoned, or heavily fined for these various types of events.
Many have gone out of business due to financial burdens placed upon them from these law suits, legal fees, and fines.
Having adequate insurance cover can make all the difference between staying in business and shutting down when any of the aforementioned incidents take place.
Thus, it's wise for a butcher to have various types of insurance cover.