A Proactive Approach to Protecting Poultry Operations

For poultry operations across the U.S., proactive loss control plays an important role in protecting properties and reducing preventable losses. From electrical hazards to roof maintenance and litter shed fire prevention, identifying potential concerns early can make a meaningful difference.

Loss control is all about identifying and reducing risks before they become losses. Through property inspections and recommendations for repairs, replacements, or other preventive measures, our Loss Control team works to help poultry operations protect their properties and minimize potential losses.

Why Does Loss Control Matter?

Loss control at ARU is a collaboration between us and the insured to avoid unnecessary losses. By being proactive rather than reactive, we can reduce the chance that an incident can occur, helping both parties to be successful.

What Are Common Loss Control Risks for Poultry Houses?

Electrical Hazards and Corrosion

Corrosion around outlets, junction boxes, and breaker panels are very common. Electrical with missing covers and/or exposed/spliced wiring are at high risk of corrosion as well. Corrosion can significantly increase the risk of electrical fires; it creates resistance, resistance creates heat, and heat leads to a risk of combustion. These items should be checked regularly for signs of corrosion. If found, the electrical wiring should be cleaned and possibly replaced. 

Purlins, Roof Screws, and Wind Damage

Purlins help support the roof, while roof screws secure the roof panels in place. Over time, the purlins can rot and/or warp, or the purlins and screws can come loose. Once loose, the roof is more susceptible to wind damage, as the wind can easily lift up the roof panels and pull further away from the structure. Proactive monitoring on these items regularly can help avoid this issue. Sometimes the screws can be simply tightened to resolve any concerns, but other times, they would need to be replaced.

Poultry Litter Shed Fire Prevention

Litter is highly combustible, making litter sheds more susceptible to fire losses. However, maintaining the litter in order to reduce the risk of fire can be simple. Keeping litter piles below 5 feet in height can help reduce the risk of spontaneous combustion, which is more likely to occur at the bottom of taller piles. Housing other combustible materials, like mobile equipment that can spark from the exhaust, gas, or diesel fuel tanks, away from the litter is also best practice. For additional guidance on preventing fires in poultry litter sheds, check out this helpful article from Alabama A&M and Auburn Universities

How Does ARU Help Poultry Farmers Reduce Risk?

At ARU, loss control is a proactive, collaborative approach to identifying potential risks and helping prevent avoidable losses. Through property inspections, our team identifies areas of concern and provides recommendations to help insureds address them. We work closely with brokers and insureds throughout the process, allowing time to make improvements and find practical solutions. Our goal is to support safer operations, reduce potential losses, and help protect the long-term success of the properties we insure.

Serving poultry operations across the lower 48 states, ARU combines specialized agricultural insurance expertise with proactive loss control to help policyholders identify risks, prevent avoidable losses, and protect their operations.

Have questions about poultry loss control or coverage?

Our team is here to help! Contact ARU to learn more about our Poultry Specialty Program and how our proactive approach to loss control helps protect poultry operations.