Top protocol tips for service technicians

Enhance your pest control protocols

I’ve spent time on the route with close to 1,000 different service technicians. Some technicians taught me, while others had to be corrected as to what they were doing. Regardless, I learned a lot spending time in the trenches.

The following protocols are some of my favorite pest control tips. They are designed to be shared with your team to ensure safety, efficiency, and professionalism across your entire operation.

Key takeaways

• Audit your fleet: Conduct monthly unannounced vehicle inspections to ensure all safety equipment mandated by labels is present and trucks are organized.
• Verify PPE competency: Don’t just provide gear; document that technicians can put on and take off PPE without contamination and maintain annual physical records.
• Master the label: Use quizzes to verify that technicians understand SDS and label requirements for every product they use regularly.
• Mitigate legal risk: Avoid branding manufacturer literature and ensure all required state notifications are documented with a written response from the recipient.

Inspect your trucks for safety and readiness

Conduct announced and unannounced vehicle inspections at least once a month. Double-check that whatever pesticides are carried in a specific vehicle contain all the safety equipment mandated on that label.

To maintain a professional and safe fleet, follow these specific requirements:

• Cleanliness matters: Ensure that every steering wheel is cleaned at least twice a week. Cleaning their personal vehicle’s steering wheel would not hurt as well.
• Inventory control: Each vehicle should contain two lists of required items: permanent (snap traps, multi-traps, etc.) and replaceable (liquids, gels, etc.). This way, there is no excuse for not knowing what each technician is expected to carry.
• Spill prevention: Store all liquid pesticides in a double container. If the initial container breaks, the second container will retain the product.
• Avoid cardboard: Never store or place liquid pesticides in or on cardboard in a vehicle. Cardboard is absorbent; if a leak occurs, you essentially have a wet sponge emitting fumes.
• Address verification: Once they get behind the wheel, make sure technicians double-check they are headed to the correct address. Palm Court, Palm Cove, and Palm Street all could be very close by.

Enforce protection protocols

Providing PPE is only half the battle; you must ensure it is being used correctly. I recommend taking a photo of each technician wearing their personal protective equipment (PPE).

In particular, have them put on and take off gloves in front of you to show they know how to do so without touching any pesticide. Then, have them sign that they were trained on how to wear their PPE and that they know when it is required.

Furthermore, inspect gloves at least weekly. Cheap gloves rip and tear after one or two uses, so always ensure extra pairs are available. Every employee who applies pesticides should also undergo an annual physical to confirm their ability to wear a respirator. Keep a record of each physical and note if the employee has allergies to bee stings, cockroach particles, or similar occupational hazards.

Follow labels and data sheets

Issue pesticide labels and safety data sheets (SDS) only for those products used regularly. If you occasionally use something unusual, store those SDS and labels in a separate section.

To ensure your team truly understands these documents:

1. Conduct training: Run sessions focused on the specific information on each label and SDS.
2. Test knowledge: Have technicians take a quiz of at least 10 questions per label and 10 more per SDS.
3. Document everything: Have them sign and date each quiz for their file. Go over any missed questions and indicate in their file that the material was further explained to them.

Every six months, write to your distributor for the latest SDS and pesticide labels. If changes occur, document what they are and when they take effect.

Strategies to reduce liability

Protecting your business requires attention to detail in your communication and branding.

First, do not stamp or print your company name on any literature that a manufacturer produces. If you do, it implies that you are responsible for what it says.

Second, if you are working in a state that requires prior notice to someone, do so by texting or emailing the person and asking them to respond in writing that they are aware of your upcoming visit. This is especially important for chemically sensitive individuals. Always ensure the distance from where you treat complies with local regulations.

Dr. Frishman, a PMP Hall of Famer (Class of 2002), can be reached at PMPEditor@northcoastmedia.net.