Ladder Safety Training Reducing Incidents, PCOs Say

CLEVELAND — Pest control companies have devoted time and resources into creating a culture of safety, and this includes ladder safety training for new and existing employees. The fruits of this labor are reduced ladder incidents.   

In fact, 57 percent of respondents to the latest PCT Reader Poll said their pest control company is seeing fewer ladder incidents than it was five years ago, while 33 percent slightly fewer, 4 percent significantly more and 6 percent slightly more. 

Mark VanderWerp, manager of education and training, Rose Pest Solutions, Troy, Mich., said when he first started with the company in 2006, no formalized ladder training program was established, leaving technicians to pick it up on the job. 

Now, Rose includes ladder safety as part of new employee training, reviewing basic ladder handling, ladder inspection and ladder set up as a hands-on demonstration style training.  

“The class is for all new employees and that includes technicians, sales and even some groups that probably don't need it, like our K-9 handlers, will come to that class,” VanderWerp said.  

One of the most common forms of injuries VanderWerp has seen is people quickly jumping off the ladder from up high when encountering wildlife pests or stinging insects. 

“Someone's at the top of the ladder and they weren't quite prepared for what they were going to run into, and they quickly retreat,” he said. “There's no faster way to retreat than to jump off a ladder, which is just an awful idea, even if you're only a few feet off the ground.” 

Rose recently implemented a safety committee comprised of different stakeholders, leadership and managerial positions to bring different opinions and viewpoints to the table.  

“That’s been helpful for adjusting some of our [safety] messaging to what's actually needed [in trainings],” VanderWerp said. “We also do a monthly safety training, and ladder safety is guaranteed to come up at least twice a year.” 

Arrow Exterminators, Atlanta, Ga., separates ladder safety between new hire and annual training as well as residential service team members (pest control, termite, lawn, mosquito, Sentricon) and home services team members (wildlife, handyman, gutter and insulation), said Richard Spencer, vice president of safety and risk management.  

“[New hires] are assigned three modules on our Arrow University E-learning Center consisting of step ladder, extension ladder and articulating ladder safety and then assigned annually,” he said. “Since we installed our current ladder safety program 13 years ago, we rarely incur an injury due to ladder use.” 

Spencer said PMPs should wear footwear that is functional and without defects. 

“If they are using an extension ladder, it is best for them to have a pronounced heel on their footwear, so their foot is less likely to slip off the rung and through to the back of the ladder,” he said. 

If a company offers a safety incentive to employees, they must make sure the incentive does not appear to incentivize the team member to not report an injury, Spencer said. 

“If a safety incentive states, ‘Go this whole year without an injury and we will give you [something],’ this policy will be seen by OSHA as an incentive to not report an injury,” he said. “If an incentive states ‘Design and deliver a safety message to the team and we will give you a gift card,’ that incentive is proactive and does not incentivize the employee to not report.” 

At Lloyd Pest Control, San Diego, Calif., the company conducts a surprise safety inspection where every person has an opportunity to make anywhere from $150 to $300 if they pass the inspection. 

Lloyd Technical Director Efrain Velasco said every employee goes through "Safety Day" when first hired that covers written policy and laws on proper ladder use. 

“Luckily, it is rare when we see issues regarding ladders,” Velasco said. “When we have [an injury], it was improper to use, like using an A-frame ladder as a straight ladder or not staying within the rungs.” 

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