Pest control companies need to do all they can to ensure they run a safe operation. Health and safety should be at the forefront of all pest control companies. With that said, here is some key health and safety advice for a pest control company.

Storage: Pesticides And Equipment

The last thing any pest control company wants is for pesticides to spill and potentially cause serious health issues for customers and/or employees. Whether it’s on-site or in a vehicle, all pesticides and any other chemicals used should be properly stored. Pesticides and chemicals should be safely stored, and the container they are stored in should be designed to actually hold them. Also, the work vehicles should have enough space for chemical/pesticide storage.

Don’t forget about equipment too. Personal Protection Equipment, work equipment that pest control technicians use, as well as cleaning products should be properly stored. A pest control company will need to research relevant laws to see if such equipment need to be stored a specific way or if it needs to be stored separately from certain chemicals and other types of equipment.

Maintenance

All equipment that is used in the company’s day-to-day operations should be well-maintained. If certain types of equipment isn’t maintained, then it can pose a serious health and safety issue. Maintenance should be performed on equipment on a regular basis or in accordance with the equipment’s owner’s manual.

All employees should be thoroughly trained in using equipment. Another piece of advice for pest control companies is for them to retrain their employees at least 1-2 times per year. This will reduce the chances of a serious accident or incident from happening.

Using Chemicals

Pest control technicians should be trained in using chemicals and they should be provided with suitable PPE. If a company does’t supply PPE or suitable training for chemical usage, then they could be at risk of being sued in the event their worker/workers are injured on the job or as a result of not being properly trained. Pest control companies should perform an assessment of the chemicals used in their business and then double-check to ensure they are providing their employees with the right training and PPE.

Employee Welfare

Another key health and safety piece of advice is in regards to employee welfare. Companies should ensure that the hours assigned to their workers are suitable and that they are provided with an appropriate number of breaks. If workers becomes stressed out due to their workload, then the company should reassess their employees’ schedules.

Work Vehicles

Pest control companies should ensure their work vehicles are in good working order. On a regular basis, companies should carryout pre-check inspections. They want to do a quick and thorough check of the brakes, mirrors and things of that nature. A company should create a list of things that should be checked during the inspection, that way all workers know exactly what to look for.

Furthermore, the work vehicles should be suitable for those who use them. A pest control company should ensure that the vehicles are comfortable for their workers. Remember, pest control technicians spend a considerable amount of time in their vehicles, so it makes sense to make sure the vehicles are safe and suitable for technicians.

It doesn’t matter if a pest control company is brand new or they’ve been in business for a longtime, they should keep the above health and safety advice in mind. The last thing any pest control company wants to do is to put their employees or customers’ health and safety at risk. There are lots of other things a company can do, but the above are among the most important.