Editor's note: This is the second of a two-part PestSure series for Fall Prevention Month examining how pest management companies can reduce slips, trips and falls during service. Part One addressed arrival checks, safe travel paths, transition points, footwear and changing weather conditions. Part Two focuses on controlling hazards once service is underway.

A safe arrival and worksite assessment are important but fall prevention cannot stop there.

The equipment technicians carry, the ladders they use and the way they manage the service area can either reduce risk or introduce new hazards.

As Fall Prevention Month ends, pest management companies should remind technicians that the safety plan continues throughout the entire service call - from unloading equipment to completing the final walk-through and returning to the vehicle.

Carry Equipment Without Blocking Your View

Trying to carry too much at once can prevent a technician from seeing curbs, steps, holes, hoses and other hazards. It can also affect balance and leave no free hand for a railing. Make a second trip or use an appropriate cart when the load blocks the walking surface or cannot be carried comfortably.

Before moving equipment, plan the route and make sure doors, gates and stairs can be navigated safely. Avoid walking backward while pulling equipment whenever possible. If a large or awkward item requires two people, wait for assistance rather than improvising.

Use Ladders as Tools - Not Shortcuts

A ladder should be selected for the task, inspected before use and placed on a firm, level surface. Check the feet, rungs, rails, locks and labels, and remove the damaged ladder from service. Face the ladder while climbing, maintain three points of contact and avoid leaning beyond the side rails. Repositioning the ladder takes less time than recovering from a fall.

OSHA requires fall protection at different heights depending on the work setting, including four feet in general industry and six feet in construction. Companies should determine which requirements apply to the task and provide technicians with the equipment and training needed to perform elevated work safely.

Do Not Create New Trip Hazards

Technicians can unintentionally change a worksite while servicing it. Hoses, extension poles, tool bags, application equipment and open cases should be positioned outside normal walking paths. Doors, stairs and emergency exits must remain clear. Clean up spills promptly and use cones or warning signs when a temporary hazard cannot be removed immediately.

Housekeeping also matters inside the service vehicle. Tools and materials should have assigned storage locations, so technicians are not climbing over loose equipment or reaching awkwardly for supplies. Before departure, complete a final check to confirm that equipment has been collected and no hazard has been left behind for the customer.

Turn Near Misses into Prevention Opportunities

A technician who slips but does not fall, catches a boot on a threshold or discovers a damaged step has identified useful safety information. Near misses should be reported and discussed without blame. Patterns may reveal a need for different footwear, better lighting, additional ladder training, changes to equipment storage or more time in the service schedule.

Supervisors can reinforce the process through brief safety talks, field observations and follow-up on reported hazards. Sharing what technicians encounter across different accounts can help the entire team recognize similar conditions before someone is injured.
Keep Fall Prevention in Focus Beyond September

Slips, trips and falls are not limited to unusual or visibly dangerous worksites. They often develop from everyday conditions and split-second decisions. Proper equipment handling, well-maintained ladders, good housekeeping and open near-miss reporting give technicians practical ways to control the risk throughout every service visit.

Fall Prevention Month may be ending, but the habits it reinforces should remain part of training, scheduling and field supervision all year. Every hazard corrected and every near miss shared is another opportunity to protect employees, maintain productivity and help technicians return home safely.

PestSure - Your Partner in Safety

Founded in 1980, PestSure is the only insurance and risk management provider exclusively dedicated to the pest management industry. Today, PestSure provides insurance, safety, and risk management consulting to pest management companies representing approximately $2 billion in annual revenue, more than $600 million in payroll, and over 11,500 service vehicles nationwide. PestSure is administered by Alliant Insurance Services.

To learn more, call 888.984.3813 or visit www.PestSure.com

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities - Latest Numbers (2024 data).

Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Fall Protection - Overview.