I apologize. I was MIA last week (took a little vacation), but now I’m back with brand new articles for horse business owners. Today I’m introducing a new category of content to Riding Instructor University called Farm Freebies. This is where I will publish free forms and tools for horse business owners.
Today’s Farm Freebie: Accident Report Form
Accidents Happen
When someone is hurt on your property, your first response should be to render assistance. Call an ambulance, administer First Aid, drive the injured party to the hospital—whatever it takes. When you’ve tended to safety, however, your job is not finished.
An Accident Report Form is absolutely essential for every horse business owner. This form allows you to document the incident while it is still fresh in your mind, and in the minds of all witnesses. It creates a written record of the accident so you can refer to it later.
A wide variety of information should be included in an Accident Report Form, including:
- Name of injured party
- Nature of incident
- Type of treatment required
- Names of witnesses
- How and to whom the injury was reported
Once you have filled out the accident report form, it should be signed by both you and the injured party.
Why Reports are Necessary
It might seem like an overreaction to create an Accident Report Form after a student falls off a horse during riding lessons or after an employee cuts himself on a nail. However, you only have to look as far as the nearest court’s docket to know that litigation is a threat.
Not only that, but you should know your farm’s safety record and have documentation to substantiate it. You might need an Accident Report Form for insurance claims, prospective customers, and a host of other purposes.
It’s just good business. Keep a copy for your records and give a copy to the person who was injured. Take care of safety first and business second, and make sure you do everything in your power to keep your clients and employees safe.
Accident report Form (PDF)
Use this Accident Report Form template to document accidents and injuries in your horse business. You can customize it with the name of your farm and/or your farm’s logo at the top.
You might also like:
- Farm Freebies:
Staff Satisfaction Survey form - Farm Freebies: Horse Business Employee Information
- Farm Freebies:
Payment Record template - Farm Freebies: Barn Rules
- Farm Freebies: Payment History template
About the Author: Laura Jane Thompson is the Chief Equestrian Officer of Riding Instructor University and the Feature writer for the horses section at Suite101. She believes that any horse business can succeed provided its owner practices smart strategy.
