Pest Control Safety Manual

Pest Control Workplace Hazards

The hazards encountered by pest control employees depend on the services performed, products used, application methods, work environment, and property being serviced.

Common hazards may include:

• Pesticide and chemical exposure
• Inhalation of sprays, mists, dusts, or vapors
• Skin and eye exposure
• Pesticide mixing and application
• Chemical spills
• Contaminated equipment and clothing
• Ladders and elevated work
• Attics and crawl spaces
• Heat stress
• Electrical hazards
• Slips, trips, and falls
• Manual lifting and material handling
• Bites and stings
• Rodents and other animals
• Biological contamination
• Driving and vehicle accidents
• Working alone
• Working around customers and the public
• Hazardous or unfamiliar customer locations

The safety manual should address the hazards that are actually associated with the company’s pest control services and work activities.

Pesticide & Chemical Safety

Pesticides are an important occupational hazard for many pest control operations. Employees should understand the hazards of the products they use and the procedures necessary to prevent exposure.

Safety procedures may address:

• Product labels and Safety Data Sheets
• Pesticide hazard information
• Mixing and dilution
• Application procedures
• Required PPE
• Ventilation
• Restricted-entry requirements
• Preventing contamination
• Spill response
• Emergency procedures
• Equipment cleaning
• Pesticide storage
• Waste and container disposal
• Employee hygiene

Employees should use pesticides according to product labeling and applicable regulatory requirements.

Hazard Communication

Employees who work with hazardous chemicals should receive information and training appropriate to the chemicals they may encounter.

A pest control company’s Hazard Communication procedures may address:

• Chemical inventories
• Container labeling
• Safety Data Sheets
• Employee training
• Chemical hazards
• Protective measures
• Non-routine tasks
• Emergency procedures

Employees should know how to locate and use the Safety Data Sheet for each hazardous chemical used in their work.

Personal Protective Equipment

The PPE required for pest control work depends on the product, application method, work environment, and potential exposure.

PPE may include:

• Chemical-resistant gloves
• Protective clothing
• Safety glasses
• Chemical splash goggles
• Face protection
• Protective footwear
• Disposable coveralls
• Respiratory protection
• Other equipment specified by the pesticide label or hazard assessment

PPE should be inspected before use, properly maintained, and replaced when damaged or contaminated.

Respiratory Protection

Some pest control activities may require respiratory protection because of pesticide exposure, application methods, environmental conditions, or other airborne hazards.

When respirators are required, the company should address applicable respiratory protection requirements, including:

• Respirator selection
• Medical evaluation
• Fit testing
• Employee training
• Inspection
• Cleaning and storage
• Cartridge or filter replacement
• Program evaluation

Employees should not rely on respirators as a substitute for feasible exposure controls.

Pesticide Mixing & Application

Employees should be trained in the safe preparation and application of the products they use.

Procedures should address:

• Reviewing the pesticide label before use
• Measuring and mixing products correctly
• Preventing splashes and spills
• Using appropriate application equipment
• Preventing incompatible chemical mixtures
• Maintaining appropriate ventilation
• Keeping unauthorized persons away from treatment areas
• Preventing contamination of food, surfaces, or other materials
• Following applicable reentry or access restrictions
• Cleaning application equipment
• Properly handling unused product

Employees should never use pesticides in a manner inconsistent with applicable labeling requirements.

Pesticide Storage

Pesticides and other pest-control chemicals should be stored to minimize the possibility of spills, leaks, incompatible reactions, unauthorized access, and employee exposure.

Storage procedures may address:

• Secure storage areas
• Original or properly labeled containers
• Chemical compatibility
• Temperature limitations
• Ventilation
• Secondary containment
• Spill-control materials
• Ignition sources
• Inventory management
• Damaged containers
• Emergency access

Vehicles used to transport or store pesticides should also be evaluated for appropriate chemical containment and security.

Spill Prevention & Response

Pest control employees may need to respond to small pesticide or chemical spills at company facilities, inside vehicles, or at customer locations.

Employees should know:

• How to protect themselves
• When to isolate the area
• What PPE is required
• How to prevent the spill from spreading
• How to protect drains and the environment
• How to use available spill-control materials
• How contaminated materials should be handled
• Who must be notified
• When emergency assistance is necessary

Employees should not attempt to clean up a spill that exceeds their training, equipment, or ability to respond safely.

Application Equipment Safety

Sprayers, dusters, foggers, injection equipment, traps, power equipment, and other pest-control tools should be inspected and maintained in safe operating condition.

Employees should:

• Inspect equipment before use
• Follow manufacturer instructions
• Check hoses, fittings, tanks, and connections for damage or leakage
• Relieve pressure before servicing pressurized equipment
• Keep guards and safety devices in place
• Remove damaged equipment from service
• Prevent accidental discharge
• Clean contaminated equipment using appropriate procedures

Ladder Safety

Pest control employees may use ladders to inspect or treat roofs, eaves, attics, ceilings, signs, trees, and other elevated locations.

Employees should select the correct ladder for the task, inspect it before use, establish it on a stable surface, maintain proper climbing practices, and avoid overreaching.

Electrical hazards should be considered when ladders are used near electrical equipment or overhead conductors.

Attics, Crawl Spaces & Limited-Access Areas

Attics, crawl spaces, basements, utility areas, and similar locations can expose employees to additional hazards such as:

• Limited access and egress
• Heat
• Poor ventilation
• Electrical wiring
• Sharp objects
• Insulation
• Dust
• Mold
• Rodents and animal waste
• Insects
• Low overhead clearance
• Difficult body positioning

Employees should evaluate these areas before entering and determine whether additional precautions are necessary.

An area should not be entered as a permit-required confined space unless applicable confined-space procedures have been satisfied.

Heat Stress Prevention

Pest control work may require employees to work outdoors, inside attics, crawl spaces, roof spaces, vehicles, or other hot environments.

Heat-illness prevention measures may include:

• Drinking adequate water
• Acclimatization
• Rest breaks
• Shade or cooler recovery areas
• Appropriate work scheduling
• Recognizing heat illness symptoms
• Monitoring employees during high-heat conditions
• Emergency response procedures

Employees should promptly report symptoms of heat-related illness.

Biological Hazards, Rodents & Animal Waste

Pest control employees may encounter rodents, birds, insects, animal waste, carcasses, nesting materials, contaminated surfaces, or other biological hazards.

Exposure-control procedures may include:

• Avoiding unnecessary disturbance of contaminated materials
• Appropriate gloves and protective clothing
• Respiratory protection when required
• Handwashing and hygiene
• Safe handling of contaminated materials
• Appropriate cleaning and disinfection
• Proper waste handling
• Reporting bites, scratches, or suspected exposures

Bites, Stings & Animal Hazards

Employees may encounter insects, spiders, rodents, snakes, dogs, wildlife, and other animals while performing pest-control services.

Employees should be trained to recognize relevant hazards and avoid unnecessary contact. Appropriate precautions should be taken when entering areas where aggressive animals, venomous species, nests, hives, or other hazards may be present.

Bites, stings, and other exposures should be promptly reported and evaluated as appropriate.

Electrical Safety

Pest control work may occur near electrical panels, wiring, appliances, rooftop equipment, crawl-space wiring, exterior electrical systems, and other energized equipment.

Employees should:

• Recognize electrical hazards
• Avoid contact with exposed energized parts
• Maintain appropriate clearance
• Use equipment appropriate for the environment
• Report damaged electrical equipment
• Avoid spraying liquids into or around energized electrical equipment unless the work can be performed safely and the product and application are appropriate

Driving & Vehicle Safety

Pest control employees may spend a substantial portion of the workday driving between customer locations.

Vehicle safety procedures may address:

• Driver qualification
• Defensive driving
• Distracted driving
• Seat belt use
• Vehicle inspections
• Backing
• Parking
• Securing equipment and chemicals
• Accident reporting
• Vehicle maintenance

Pesticides, compressed gases, tools, and equipment should be secured to prevent movement, damage, spills, or employee exposure during transportation.

Manual Lifting & Material Handling

Employees may lift or carry pesticide containers, sprayers, ladders, traps, equipment, supplies, and other materials.

Safe material-handling procedures should address:

• Evaluating loads before lifting
• Using appropriate lifting techniques
• Avoiding unnecessary twisting and reaching
• Using carts or mechanical assistance when practical
• Team lifting when appropriate
• Properly storing materials

Slips, Trips & Falls

Employees frequently work in unfamiliar locations where walking surfaces may be wet, uneven, cluttered, poorly illuminated, or otherwise hazardous.

Employees should watch for:

• Wet floors
• Uneven surfaces
• Stairs and steps
• Loose rugs or mats
• Cords and hoses
• Clutter
• Landscaping hazards
• Roof or attic openings
• Poor lighting

Employees should correct hazards when authorized or take precautions to avoid exposure.

Working Alone

Pest control employees commonly work alone at customer locations or in isolated areas.

Working-alone procedures may include:

• Employee check-in procedures
• Communication methods
• Emergency contacts
• Location or dispatch information
• Procedures for missed check-ins
• Restrictions on particularly hazardous tasks
• Procedures for obtaining emergency assistance

Working at Customer Locations

Customer locations should be evaluated for hazards that may not be present at the company’s own facility.

Employees should remain alert for:

• Animals
• Children and other occupants
• Electrical hazards
• Unsafe walking surfaces
• Restricted areas
• Traffic
• Hazardous chemicals
• Construction or maintenance activities
• Security concerns
• Aggressive or threatening behavior
• Other site-specific hazards

Employees should not perform work when conditions present an uncontrolled serious hazard.

Protecting Customers & the Public

Pest control operations should be performed in a manner that protects customers, building occupants, visitors, and other members of the public.

Procedures may address:

• Communicating treatment restrictions
• Controlling access to treatment areas
• Posting signs when required
• Protecting food and personal items
• Preventing unauthorized contact with pesticides
• Securing equipment
• Providing appropriate customer instructions
• Preventing unintended pesticide migration

Emergency Procedures

Employees should know what to do in the event of:

• Pesticide exposure
• Chemical splash
• Inhalation exposure
• Spill or leak
• Fire
• Vehicle accident
• Serious bite or sting
• Heat illness
• Electrical incident
• Employee injury
• Medical emergency

Emergency contact information should be readily available to employees working in the field.

Pest Control Safety Training

Employee training should reflect assigned duties and workplace hazards.

Training may include:

• Pesticide safety
• Hazard Communication
• PPE
• Respiratory protection
• Chemical handling
• Spill response
• Application equipment
• Ladder safety
• Heat illness prevention
• Biological hazards
• Driving safety
• Manual lifting
• Working alone
• Emergency procedures

Additional training may be required based on pesticide products, application methods, licensing requirements, equipment, and applicable regulations.

Customized Pest Control Safety Manuals

Pest control companies may provide residential, commercial, structural, termite, fumigation, wildlife, rodent, landscape, agricultural, or other pest-management services. The hazards and safety programs needed by each company can therefore vary considerably.

A customized Pest Control Safety Manual can be developed around your company’s services, pesticides and chemicals, application equipment, vehicles, work environments, and employee exposures.