PestSure Reminds of Four Tips When Working With Subcontractors

DALLAS – The structural pest control industry is no stranger to sub-contractors. From termite pre-treatments and fumigations to lawn care and construction repairs, PMPs rely on subcontractors to fill in the service gaps and allow them to provide more services to clients. Working with subcontractors is not without risk, however, and many pest management professionals are not fully aware of the perils as it relates to insurance. 

Kristina Phillips, CIC, CRM, vice president and director of client services for PestSure at Alliant Specialty, says pest management professionals need to carefully review the details in their subcontractor agreements and contracts, and make sure they are indemnified.

“PMPs must ensure the subcontractor can comply with all the requirements included in the contract,” says Phillips. “If something goes wrong and there is a claim, the pest management professional is ultimately responsible. Many PMPs don’t realize that and assume the subcontractor will take care of it.”

Phillips says workers compensation claims and fumigations – a service PMPs routinely subcontract for - is a good example of the importance of carefully reviewing your agreements. 

In contracts, PMPs are often asked by customers to include a waiver of subrogation to their workers compensation policy. By signing the waiver PMPs eliminate their insurance carrier’s right to seek damages from another party. PMPs often add these waivers without knowing the full impact of the decision, says Phillips.

“It is important to remember that if you sign a waiver, you are doing so for both you and the subcontractor,” says Phillips. “If a subcontractor’s employee gets hurt on the job their insurance company can go after your company to recover costs for the injury.”