Most Common Risks Mechanics Face

Any business which is involved in mechanical repairs requires motor trade insurance. Whilst road risks insurance is legal requirement the optional extras such as premises cover and goods in transit are not. If you run a garage carrying out repairs to the general public’s vehicles it is wise to take out the optional extras available as you want to make sure you and your business are fully protected against any number of incidents that could arise.

Here’s a guide to some of the most common risks.

Theft

Theft can occur frequently in the motor repair industry, given the sheer amount of equipment and tools required for the job. More often than not, the equipment left on-site is extremely expensive which means that garages and similar premises are attractive targets for thieves. In addition, cash and the personal effects of both customers and staff are often left overnight which provides an added incentive for the criminally-minded.

Injury

Working with complicated machinery is an extremely hazardous task, especially when a mechanic is required to assess moving parts as they operate. Consequently, the loss of a limb or extremity is one of the hazards of the job. In addition the environment in which mechanics work can also prove dangerous with areas such as service pits, ramps and hoists adding to the potential for trips or falls, personal injury claims are a common occurrence.

Damage to Vehicles

Cars tend to be pretty pricey these days, so any damage caused to a customer’s vehicle can also mean a large bill for motor trade businesses; scratches and bumps unfortunately occur on a regular basis. Also, it’s rather easy for inexperienced mechanics to damage the increasingly complicated electrical components present in newer vehicles. It’s not really a surprise then that owners tend to get pretty riled when they send their car to be repaired only for it to return in a worse state – claims from damaged property form quite a sizeable proportion of insurance pay-outs.

Fire

Fire is always going to be a hazard for any business. However, in the motor trade, the risk is considerably higher due the use of heat-generating machine tools such as welders and metal cutters which can cause sparks to fly - flammable chemicals don’t tend to react well with sparks either so there’s added potential for some kind of large fire. The interaction with electricity, which can also generate sparks through short-circuits means that fire is a constant risk.

Road Risks

Test-driving is considered a usual, every-day practice among mechanics and is often necessary so that any repair work can be properly assessed. As a result, there’s the added chance of road accidents. This can be exacerbated by the fact that young apprentice mechanics (who are sometimes inexperienced behind the wheel), are often tasked with this duty. So bangs and scrapes with other vehicles are relatively normal in a nationwide context. And when multiple parties are involved, numerous claims can arise.