Most safety conversations in the pest control industry focus on the obvious - vehicle accidents, slips and falls, or chemical handling.

But as highlighted in a session at PestSure’s 2025 Safety and Loss Prevention Conference, many of the biggest exposures come from everyday decisions that don’t always feel like safety risks in the moment.

And often, those decisions are tied directly to time pressure.

When technicians and managers are trying to move faster, fit more into the day, or solve problems on the fly, they can unintentionally create risks that impact insurance coverage, claims outcomes and long-term costs.

As Abby Thalachelloor, PestSure’s director of claims, shared with attendees that every decision can have unforeseen consequences.

The Hidden Side of Risk

Not all exposures come from accidents. Many come from business practices that seem routine:

• Allowing ride-alongs without clear policies
• Letting employees take vehicles home without defined boundaries
• Using personal vehicles for work without proper coverage
• Overlooking contract language or documentation requirements

These aren’t isolated issues. They are operational decisions that, over time, can lead to costly claims.

Thalachelloor told attendees that companies are often paying for things we shouldn’t have to not because of bad intent, but because of gaps in process, communication or oversight.

Where Time Pressure Creates Exposure

Many of these risks are amplified when teams are rushed:

• A technician brings along a ride-along to “help out” without thinking through liability
• A manager skips verifying a driver’s history to fill an open route
• Documentation is delayed or incomplete because the day got busy
• A quick contract is signed without reviewing indemnity or arbitration clauses

These shortcuts don’t just affect productivity. They directly impact your ability to defend a claim.

As Thalachelloor explained from a claims perspective, lack of documentation or verification can make a case difficult to defend even if the company did nothing intentionally wrong.

Five Practical Steps to Reduce Hidden Risk

The good news is that many of these exposures can be addressed with simple, consistent practices.

1. Slow Down Key Decisions - Not every decision should be made in the field or under pressure. Build checkpoints for hiring and driver qualification, contract review and coverage verification for personal vehicles. A few extra minutes upfront can prevent significant costs later.

2. Clarify Policies Around Common Gray Areas - Some of the biggest risks come from unclear expectations. Make sure your team understands:

• Whether ride-alongs are allowed and under what conditions
• Rules for personal use of company vehicles
• Requirements for using personal autos for work

Kristina Phillips, director of client services for PestSure, highlighted how easily coverage gaps can occur, especially when employees don’t properly notify their personal auto carriers.

3. Make Documentation a Daily Habit - Records matter especially when defending claims months or years later. Maintain service records consistently, keep proof of driver qualification and insurance verification, and retain documents in line with state, policy and legal requirements. In claims scenarios, missing records can be the difference between winning and losing.

4. Evaluate “Convenience” Decisions - Many operational choices are made for convenience, but they come with tradeoffs including storing vehicles together overnight, allowing flexible start and stop times without clarity on “on-the-job” status and informal agreements with subcontractors.  

5. Empower Your Team to Ask Questions - One of the most practical takeaways from the session was simple: “Know when to say ‘no’ and ask questions.”

Creating a culture where technicians and managers pause to ask, “Is this covered?” or “Is this the right way to handle it?” can prevent costly mistakes.

The Bottom Line

Time management isn’t just about efficiency; it’s about making space for better decisions.

When teams are rushed, they rely on assumptions. When they have time and clarity, they follow process. The most successful pest control companies recognize that safety extends beyond the job site. It includes how you hire, document, drive, contract and manage daily operations.

Because in the end, the risks you don’t see or don’t think about are often the ones that cost the most.

PestSure: Your Partner in Safety

At PestSure, we work with pest control companies to identify risk before it becomes a claim. From hiring strategies to driver safety programs, our focus is helping you protect your people, your fleet, and your business.

To learn more about how PestSure can support your risk management efforts, call 888.984.3813 or visit our contact page.

PestSure provides insurance, safety, and risk management consulting to pest management companies representing $2 billion in revenue, $400 million in payroll, and more than 13,000 service vehicles. The program is administered by Alliant Insurance Services.