In today’s pest control industry, hiring decisions carry more weight than ever. Labor shortages, seasonal spikes in demand and growth goals often push companies to move quickly when filling open positions. But when it comes to fleet safety, workplace injuries and long-term risk, who you hire - and how you hire - has a direct correlation to your loss history, insurance costs and overall operational stability.

At PestSure, we consistently see a strong connection between structured hiring practices and improved safety outcomes. The companies that treat hiring as a frontline risk management function often outperform their peers in auto, general liability and workers’ compensation performance.

Safety Starts Before Day One

Safety does not begin at orientation. It begins during recruitment.

Clear job descriptions should outline not only driving expectations, but also physical demands, ladder usage, pesticide handling responsibilities and customer-facing accountability standards. When expectations are communicated early, applicants self-select and the likelihood of poor fit decreases.

Pre-employment screening is equally critical. This includes:

Companies that skip or rush these steps assume unnecessary exposure. A single at-fault accident, ladder fall or misapplication incident tied to a preventable hiring oversight can impact your loss ratio for years.

Experience Matters; Structure Matters More

While experienced technicians may present lower initial risk, experience alone does not guarantee safe behavior behind the wheel or on the jobsite. A structured onboarding process closes the gap between hiring and performance.

High-performing pest control companies implement:

When new hires clearly understand expectations around safe driving, proper ladder setup, chemical handling procedures and incident reporting, they are more likely to adopt safe habits early.

The Insurance Impact

From an underwriting perspective, hiring practices are not invisible. Carriers evaluate driver tenure, turnover rates, claims frequency and the presence of formal safety programs across auto, GL and WC lines.

Companies with consistent hiring standards and documented training protocols present as better risks. That can translate into more stable renewals, stronger carrier relationships and more predictable pricing.

On the flip side, high turnover combined with limited screening can signal instability. Frequent onboarding of inexperienced drivers and technicians increases the probability of auto accidents, slip and fall injuries, pesticide exposure claims and other preventable losses.

Culture Is the Multiplier

There is also a cultural component to the hiring-safety correlation. Companies that prioritize safety during recruitment send a clear message: productivity matters, but so does responsibility.

When leadership reinforces safe driving, proper ladder use and disciplined pesticide handling consistently - not just after an incident - employees recognize that safety is embedded in the business model. That alignment reduces preventable losses and strengthens accountability across the organization.

A Strategic Decision

Hiring is often viewed as an operational task. In reality, it is a strategic risk management decision. Every new technician represents either a controlled exposure or an unmanaged one - whether behind the wheel, on a ladder or applying product at a customer’s property.

The correlation between hiring practices and safety outcomes is measurable in claims data, insurance performance and long-term profitability.

Pest control companies that approach hiring with discipline, structure and documentation position themselves for sustainable growth. In a market where insurance costs and litigation trends continue to challenge contractors, proactive hiring and training practices remain one of the most effective safety investments you can make.

Protecting people and profits begins long before the engine starts - and long before the first service call of the day.

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, $400 million in payroll, and more than 13,000 service vehicles. The program is administered by Alliant Insurance Services.

To learn more, call 888.984.3813 or visit our contact page.

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