[Viewpoint] Weighing the risks vs. benefits

As we all know, there are risks associated with working in the pest management industry. PCOs have to deal with personnel issues, insurance liability concerns and a variety of chemical applications.

Every time you take on a new account, there’s also potential risk. Is the customer chemically sensitive? Do they have unreasonable demands? Might they refuse to pay you?

This month’s cover story, "Thanks, But No Thanks" came out of a discussion our editorial staff had several months ago. We were trying to think of stories that would apply to all of our readers, regardless of their company’s size or location. And when we came up with this idea, we didn’t know if it was a good one or not. So we sent out an e-mail survey to a couple thousand readers questioning why, if ever, they would turn away an account. We were pleased and intrigued by the results, so we decided "Thanks, But No Thanks" was a winner. Jeff Tucker, a noted industry consultant and expert witness on many pest control litigation cases, wrote a portion of the cover story, which begins on page 69. We also included stories from pest management professionals who walked away — or who should have walked away — from an account.

Another story this month, "What the World Needs Now is DDT," on page 152, also deals with the issue of risk. Many people will ask why we chose to reprint a story, albeit from The New York Times magazine, about DDT. We decided that the article was relevant because it raises an issue important to all of us — balancing the risks vs. benefits of pesticides.

The public’s negative perception of the chemical makes it something no one wants to touch with a 10-foot pole. But I see this story as something bigger, a story bigger than DDT and malaria in a far-away continent. I see it as a story that raises important questions about the topic of risks vs. benefits.

It’s no secret that products used in our industry are sometimes labeled as being harmful to human health and detrimental to the environment. But what about the other side of the coin, the important role pesticides play in protecting public health and property? Certainly there are risks associated with the indiscriminate use of pesticides, but if used correctly do the benefits outweigh the risks? And what are the long-term implications of removing pesticides from the marketplace?

We hope this story sparks discussion in the industry about this topic and we hope to hear your thoughts about it as well.

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One other note about this month’s issue: Please keep in mind that our State of the Industry report was written before the series of hurricanes hit Florida in August and September. The impact of the hurricanes on the pest management industry is still unknown, but PCT will cover this topic as it develops. (See page 58 for a story about how one PCO is handling the aftermath of Hurricane Charley.)

The author is editor of PCT magazine.