How do I check a u-pick orchard’s first aid and visitor safety setup?
Walk the orchard as a visitor would, from the parking area to the farthest tree, and note hazards. Then ask for incident logs, first aid supplies and staff training records, and ask how the seller handles injuries, children and emergency calls. Ask your insurer what they would want to see.
Visitors bring risk that a working farm does not: children running, ladders in use, uneven ground, wasps, tractors and wagons moving among people. Walk the grounds and look at the parking, paths, signs, washrooms and any place where visitors and machinery meet. Ask how those areas are separated and who watches them at busy times.
Ask for the incident record. A seller who keeps notes on injuries, near misses and complaints is a seller who takes the risk seriously. Ask how a serious injury would be handled: who calls for help, how emergency crews find the site, and who looks after the family. Look at the first aid supplies and ask who is trained and whether anyone is always on site during hours.
Ask about insurance and claims history, and check what the policy covers. Ask the insurer, not only the seller. Also ask how ladders, picking containers and wagons are inspected and replaced. If the seller offers events or school visits, ask what extra safeguards are used. Plan a yearly safety review once you own the place, and keep the written notes from it.
Key takeaways
- Walk the site as a visitor and mark every place where people and machinery meet.
- Ask for incident records and find out who is trained and on duty at busy times.
- Talk to the insurer about claims history and what coverage would continue for you.
Related reading
12 pages on the same subject, grouped by topic.
Buying
Selling
- Expert answerHow do I explain my orchard’s pick-your-own season and event days to a buyer?
- Expert answerHow do I describe my orchard’s cider and baked goods sideline to a buyer?
- Expert answerHow do I prepare my orchard’s equipment list and maintenance records for a buyer?
- Expert answerHow do I show buyers my orchard’s yield history from year to year?
Due diligence
- Expert answerHow do I review an orchard’s farm records and expense receipts before buying?
- Expert answerHow do I judge an orchard’s frost protection and wind machine setup?
- Expert answerWhat should I ask about the pollinators an orchard relies on every spring?
- Expert answerWhat should I check about an orchard’s trellis system and pruning practices?
- GuideDue diligence on a berry farm
Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
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