In the pest management industry, safety incidents don't always end with an injury, damaged vehicle, or workers' compensation claim. Sometimes a technician slips or trips on a chord but regains their footing. A ladder shifts but doesn't fall. A distracted driver catches themselves before a collision. These are often dismissed as "close calls."

They shouldn't be.

Near misses are among the most valuable safety tools available to pest management companies because they reveal weaknesses before someone gets hurt. Organizations that encourage employees to report and discuss these incidents can identify trends, strengthen procedures, and build a stronger safety culture without paying the high cost of a preventable accident.

What Is a Near Miss?

A near miss is an unplanned event that had the potential to cause injury, property damage, or equipment loss but didn't, often because of quick action or simple luck.

Examples in pest management include:

• A technician nearly falls while stepping off a ladder.
• A company vehicle narrowly avoids a rear-end collision after a moment of distraction.
• A pesticide container tips over but doesn't spill.
• A technician almost experiences a dog bite during a residential service call.
• A trip hazard is discovered before someone is injured.

While the outcome may have been harmless, the underlying hazard still exists. Treating these events as learning opportunities helps prevent the next incident from having a different ending.

Why Near Miss Reporting Matters

Many employees hesitate to report near misses because they don't think the incident was serious enough or they're concerned they'll be blamed.

That's why leadership plays such an important role.

When managers respond with curiosity instead of criticism, employees become more willing to share what happened. The goal isn't to assign fault. It's to understand what contributed to the event and identify practical ways to reduce future risk.

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PestSure, the leading member-owned insurance and risk management program serving the pest management industry, today announced the appointment of Justin McCauley of McCauley Services and Bob Dold, Jr of Rose Pest Solutions, to its Board of Directors, while recognizing the retirement of longtime board member Russ Ives after 23 years of service.

McCauley and Dold bring decades of leadership experience and a deep commitment to advancing the pest management industry. As board members, they will help guide PestSure's strategic direction while supporting its mission of delivering industry-focused insurance solutions, proactive risk management resources, and long-term value to its member companies.

At the same time, PestSure recognizes the retirement of Russ Ives of Rose Pest Solutions of Troy, Michigan, from the Board of Directors after more than 20 years of dedicated service. Ives served on the PestSure Board from 2003 through 2026, helping shape the organization's growth and strengthening its position as a trusted partner for pest management professionals across the country.

"Justin and Bob are highly respected leaders who understand both the challenges and opportunities facing today's pest management companies," said Mike Rottler of Rottler Pest Solutions and Chairman of the PestSure Board of Directors. "Their operational expertise, strategic perspective, and commitment to our industry will be tremendous assets as PestSure continues to evolve and deliver innovative solutions that help our members protect their businesses and their employees."

Rottler also expressed appreciation for Ives' longstanding contributions to the organization.

"Russ has played an instrumental role in PestSure's success over the past 23 years," said Rottler. "His thoughtful leadership, steady guidance, and unwavering commitment to serving our members have helped shape the organization we are today. On behalf of the entire Board, we thank Russ for his extraordinary service and the lasting impact he has made on PestSure and the pest