The average American takes approximately 4,774 steps a day. In the pest control industry, we know technicians, inspectors and sales representatives take a lot more than that during the workday.
Inspecting a 1 million sq. ft. warehouse, applying multiple perimeter treatments for mosquitoes in one residential neighborhood or climbing stairs in an apartment building, can rack up the steps, increasing the likelihood of a slip, and fall incident. That is why pest control professionals need to pay attention to the shoes they wear.
Footwear safety is not only an important part of building a culture of safety, but it can impact your company’s bottom line. Research shows that 85 percent of workers’ comp claims can be traced to employees falling on slick surfaces and that slips and falls account for 65 percent of all workdays lost due to injury. And the average cost of a slip or fall accident is more than $20,000. Those are numbers that get your attention.
What Causes Slips and Falls
Slips, trips, and falls in outdoor environments can be caused by uneven surfaces, hidden trip hazards, and weather conditions that create poor traction or that cause pest control technicians to lose their balance. While technicians cannot control environmental conditions that decrease the safety of outdoor walkway surfaces, they can certainly reduce the likelihood of falls through increased awareness and eliminating hazardous situations.
Uneven ground, debris, tools, and wet grass are all potential causes of slips, trips, and falls for pest control personnel. These types of accidents are especially dangerous since technicians often risk falling with a tool in hand or while wearing a backpack.
Although many slip, trip, and fall injuries are minor (for example, sprained ankles and wrists), they can be very costly from a personal perspective because they limit mobility. Some falls result in serious knee and shoulder injuries.
In 2023, non-ladder related workplace slip and fall injuries from stairs, decks, retaining walls, made up 30 percent of total work injury claims for PestSure insureds. Of those incidents, 81 were related to a loss of traction. That is why wearing the correct work shoes is critical in reducing slip and fall incidents.
Shoes for Crews Program
To help their insureds provide safe, durable footwear for employees, PestSure has secured an exclusive discount program through Shoes for Crews. The company designs and manufactures a wide range of slip-resistant footwear including customized shoes for the pest control industry. The shoes feature Gladiator Outsole Technology designed for both indoor and outdoor use. The outsole is resistant to mud and grease, and 90 percent of models are waterproof. It also self-cleans as you walk, and the design includes ladder grab notches.
Companies can select from company paid/sponsored or subsidized programs and can be as broad or granular as needed, including the ability to customize shoes by specific job type.
Program features include:
- Account Management – Work with a dedicated account manager to set your goals, select the correct shoe and identify ways to drive program adoption.
- Data and Reporting – Track safety program compliance and make informed decisions with 24/7 access to data and reporting updates.
- Payment and Billing – Streamline your operations with automated accounting processes, integrated payroll and billing systems and secure reporting.
- Online Ordering Portal – Simplify the shoe ordering process with a fast, convenient online ordering portal. Easily track which employees have ordered shoes and when it is time to reorder.
- Satisfaction Guarantee – A 60-day satisfaction guarantee, six-month warranty and a $5,000 slip and fall warranty.
PestSure members can find more information on the Shoes for Crews discount program in the member area of the PestSure website.
PestSure – Your Partner in Safety
Founded in 1980, PestSure is the only insurance and risk management provider that is 100 percent dedicated to the pest management industry. It offers industry professionals a full suite of insurance, risk management, and safety training and education offerings.
PestSure provides insurance, safety and risk management consulting to pest management companies representing $2 billion in revenue, $750 million in payroll and more than 16,500 service vehicles. The program is administered by Alliant Insurance Services.
Call 888.984.3813 or visit our contact page for more information.