Pest control health and safety templates and guidance.

Take charge of health and safety in your pest control business with our simple templates

Simplify health and safety management in your pest control business or pest management service, whether you’re carrying out domestic and commercial pest control, responding to call-outs, completing routine monitoring visits, or working across homes, offices, retail premises, food premises, warehouses, and outdoor sites. Our editable templates are created specifically for pest controllers, helping you stay compliant with health and safety regulations while protecting staff, clients, occupants, and contractors from everyday hazards such as pesticides and biocides, biological risks from pests and waste, slips and trips, lone working, and more.

Many templates come pre-filled with detailed, trade-specific content — from pest control risk assessments and health and safety policies to COSHH documents, accident report forms, and staff safety guidance. Completing and adapting them for your business is quick, easy, and stress-free. With our ready-to-use compliance tools, you can focus on delivering professional pest management services and effective pest control solutions — while maintaining the highest standards of safety and compliance.

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Professional pest controller treating a wasps nest at a client's house.

Keeping Risks Under Control, Why Health and Safety Matters in Pest Control

Running a pest control business is about more than solving infestations — it’s about protecting people, property, and your professional reputation. Whether you provide domestic and commercial pest control, manage regular monitoring contracts, or respond to urgent call-outs, pest management services involve real-world hazards that need a clear, consistent approach to health and safety.

Protecting Your Team and Clients

Everyday pest control work can expose pest control operatives to hazards such as pesticides, rodenticides, and biocides, biological risks from pests and waste, traps and bait stations, working at height in lofts and roof spaces, confined areas and voids, manual handling, slips and trips, and vehicle use between sites. Clients, occupants, visitors, and members of the public may also be affected if areas are not controlled properly or treatments are not communicated clearly. A practical health and safety approach helps reduce accidents and ill health, protects those on site, and supports consistent, professional working practices across every job.

Meeting Legal Duties with Confidence

Health and safety compliance isn’t just good practice — it’s a legal responsibility. Pest control businesses must assess risks, manage hazardous substances, provide suitable information, instruction and training, and ensure staff have appropriate PPE and safe systems of work. Using tools such as pest control risk assessments, health and safety policies, COSHH documentation, and accident reporting forms helps you identify hazards, record control measures, and demonstrate compliance confidently to clients, insurers, or inspectors.

Protecting Your Reputation

In an industry built on trust and professionalism, reputation matters. Accidents, unsafe practices, or poor documentation can quickly damage confidence in your pest control business — especially when working in occupied homes, food premises, or sensitive environments. A visible commitment to health and safety helps clients feel reassured, supports higher standards of service delivery, and shows that your pest management services are organised, responsible, and professionally managed.

Proactive Safety Tools

Effective safety management isn’t just about reacting to incidents — it’s about preventing them. Regular risk assessments, safe working procedures, equipment checks, clear signage, and staff guidance form the backbone of safe pest control operations. Our Pest Control Health and Safety Templates are designed to make this process simple and efficient, helping you stay compliant, protect your team and clients, and focus on delivering safe, effective, and professional pest control services every day.

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Top 3 Health and Safety Hazards in Pest Control:

  • Various chemicals, spray bottles and tools used in the pest control business sat on the driveway of a beautiful cottage on a sunny day.

    1. Exposure to Pesticides, Rodenticides, & Biocides

    One of the most significant risks in pest control work is exposure to hazardous substances used to treat infestations. Pest controllers may be exposed during mixing, application, cleaning of equipment, or accidental spills. Clients, occupants, pets, and members of the public can also be affected if treatments are not controlled correctly. Risks include poisoning, respiratory irritation, skin burns, and long-term health effects. These risks are mitigated through proper risk assessments, COSHH assessments, correct product selection, controlled application methods, suitable PPE and RPE, and clear communication with clients about treated areas and re-entry times.

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  • Pest control operative working in a confined space in a customer's loft.

    2. Working at Height, Loft Spaces, & Confined Areas

    Pest controllers frequently work at height or in restricted spaces such as lofts, roof voids, basements, and crawl spaces. These environments often involve poor lighting, fragile surfaces, limited access, and fall risks. Injuries can include falls from ladders, falls through ceilings, head injuries, or entrapment. Controls include avoiding work at height where possible, using suitable ladders and crawl boards, maintaining three points of contact, assessing loft spaces before entry, and stopping work if conditions are unsafe. These risks are commonly addressed within a pest control–specific risk assessment rather than generic templates.

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  • A serious rat infestation outside a fast-food business.

    3. Biological Hazards from Pests & Contaminated Environments

    Pest control work brings operatives into contact with rodents, insects, birds, waste, droppings, urine, carcasses, and contaminated dust. These can carry bacteria, viruses, parasites, and allergens that may cause infections or respiratory illness. Exposure can occur during inspections, clean-ups, or removal of nests and carcasses. Mitigation includes suitable PPE, hygiene and decontamination procedures, safe waste handling, vaccinations where appropriate, and clear procedures for sharps or heavily contaminated sites. This is a key risk covered within professional pest management health and safety templates.

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    Our ready to use templates, many of which are pre-filled, will enable you to quickly increase your compliance to health and safety laws and regulations.

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    With health and safety consultants often charging upwards of £400 per day, there is a better way. Take control and save yourself time and money.
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Pest controller in a warehouse crouched down spraying pesticide with sprayer.

Tackling Health and Safety Compliance Challenges in your Pest Control Business

Running a pest control business means juggling countless responsibilities — from responding to call-outs and managing client expectations to handling pesticides, traps, equipment, and the day-to-day risks that come with pest control work. With so many operational pressures, it’s easy for health and safety compliance to slip down the list. But neglecting it can lead to incidents, enforcement action, and reputational damage that costs far more than the effort needed to stay compliant.

For many pest control businesses and pest management services, finding the time and resources to put robust safety measures in place can feel overwhelming. Tight schedules, urgent infestations, lone working, travel between sites, and working in unfamiliar or challenging environments often take priority over paperwork. Yet maintaining up-to-date risk assessments, COSHH records for pesticides and biocides, and clear safe working procedures is essential for protecting operatives, clients, occupants, and your business reputation.

At easyhealthandsafety, we make compliance simple for pest controllers, pest control operatives, and pest management services. Our ready-to-use, editable templates are practical, affordable, and designed specifically for pest control work. Many documents — from Pest Control Risk Assessments to Health and Safety Policies — come pre-filled with content, helping you manage risk, meet legal duties, and grow your pest control business safely and confidently.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Pest Control Health and Safety FAQs

How can I create a risk assessment for my pest control business?

To create a risk assessment for your pest control business, identify hazards, decide who could be harmed and how, put suitable controls in place, and record and review the assessment regularly.

A pest control risk assessment should reflect the real activities you carry out, such as inspections, treatments, baiting and trapping, follow-up visits, lone working, driving between sites, and working in lofts, voids, or confined spaces. Start by identifying hazards linked to those tasks, including pesticides and biocides, biological hazards from pests and waste, working at height, slips and trips, manual handling, fire risks, and aggressive animals. You then assess who could be harmed, such as pest control operatives, clients, occupants, contractors, and members of the public, and how harm could occur.

Once hazards are identified, suitable control measures must be recorded and communicated, and the assessment reviewed when work changes or new risks are introduced. To make this process simple and reliable, our Pest Control Risk Assessment Template is pre-filled with the most common industry hazards and controls, allowing you to quickly tailor it to your pest control business.

For a complete compliance solution, the Pest Control Health and Safety Template Bundle includes supporting documents such as COSHH assessments, policies, and accident reporting forms.

Do pest control businesses need to complete a risk assessment?

Yes — all pest control businesses must complete a risk assessment to identify and manage risks associated with their work.

Every employer or self-employed pest controller has a duty to assess risks that could affect staff, clients, occupants, contractors, and the public. This applies to all pest control and pest management services, including domestic and commercial pest control work. Whether you are handling pesticides, accessing loft spaces, driving between sites, or working alone, a pest control risk assessment is essential for preventing accidents and demonstrating a responsible approach to safety.

Our Pest Control Risk Assessment Template makes compliance straightforward by covering the key risks faced by pest control businesses in a clear, professional format. If your business employs five or more people, the risk assessment must be recorded in writing. However, it is strongly recommended best practice for smaller pest control businesses to keep written risk assessments as well, as this helps demonstrate professionalism, protect your reputation, manage liability, and protect your business if legal action is taken following an incident or claim.

What health and safety documents does a pest control business need?

Pest control businesses need a range of documents to manage risk and demonstrate compliance.

Key documents typically include a pest control risk assessment, COSHH risk assessments for pesticides, biocides and other hazardous substances, a health and safety policy, a fire risk assessment (where the business operates from premises or stores flammable materials), accident and incident report form, and staff safety guidance. The exact documents required will depend on the size of the business, the type of pest control work carried out, and whether the business operates from offices, storage units, or vehicle depots.

To remove confusion and simplify the whole process, our Pest Control Health and Safety Template Bundle brings all essential documents together in one place. It provides a practical, cost-effective solution for pest control businesses and pest management services looking to improve safety, demonstrate compliance, and protect their operatives, clients, and reputation without relying on expensive consultancy support.

What are the main health and safety risks in pest control work?

Pest control work involves chemical, biological, environmental, and operational risks that must be properly managed.

Common hazards include exposure to pesticides, rodenticides, and biocides, contact with pests and contaminated waste, working at height or in confined spaces, lone working, driving between sites, slips and trips, manual handling, fire risks, and aggressive animals. These risks can affect pest control operatives, clients, occupants, and the public if not controlled effectively.

Using a structured Pest Control Risk Assessment Template, supported by COSHH documentation and clear procedures, helps identify these hazards and apply realistic controls that suit day-to-day pest control operations.

Do pest control businesses need COSHH risk assessments?

Yes — COSHH risk assessments are required when pest control businesses use hazardous substances.

Pesticides, biocides, disinfectants, and cleaning products can pose risks through inhalation, skin contact, or accidental ingestion. COSHH risk assessments help you understand those risks and set out controls such as safe storage, correct application methods, PPE and RPE requirements, and emergency procedures.

Our COSHH Risk Assessments are easily adaptable for assessing hazardous substances used in pest control, including pesticides, rodenticides, biocides, disinfectants, and cleaning products. They can then be used alongside your Pest Control Risk Assessment to ensure chemical risks are properly considered within your overall pest control risk assessment, giving you a clear and practical way to manage chemical safety.

Do pest control businesses need a health and safety policy?

Yes — a written health and safety policy is required if your pest control business employs staff and is best practice for all businesses.

A health and safety policy sets out your commitment to managing risks, protecting pest control operatives and clients, and meeting legal responsibilities. It explains roles, responsibilities, and arrangements for health and safety management and is often requested by commercial clients, insurers, and contractors.

Our editable Health and Safety Policy template is written in plain language and is easily adaptable for pest control businesses. It is also included within the Pest Control Health and Safety Template Bundle for those wanting a complete compliance solution.

Is lone working a health and safety risk in pest control?

Yes — lone working is a significant hazard in pest control that must be risk assessed and managed.

Many pest control operatives work alone in unfamiliar properties, remote locations, or outside normal working hours. This increases the consequences of injuries, sudden illness, aggressive behaviour, or becoming trapped in unsafe areas where immediate assistance may not be available. Lone working can also increase risk when accessing lofts, basements, voids, or external areas.

Lone working should be assessed as part of your overall pest control risk assessment and reflected in how work is planned and monitored. Our Pest Control Risk Assessment Template includes lone working as a key operational hazard, making it easy to tailor the assessment to how your pest control business actually operates.

Do pest control businesses need a fire risk assessment?

Yes — pest control businesses that operate from premises or store flammable substances must complete a fire risk assessment.

Fire risks can arise from the storage of flammable chemicals and aerosols, electrical equipment, vehicle depots, offices, workshops, or storage units. A fire risk assessment helps identify ignition sources, people at risk, escape routes, and appropriate fire precautions.

Our Fire Risk Assessment Template guides you step-by-step through the process, helping you identify hazards, assess risks, and record suitable control measures. For additional support, the Essential Fire Safety Template Bundle includes fire safety signage, logbook, and staff guidance to help implement fire precautions effectively.

What PPE is required for pest control operatives?

PPE requirements depend on the tasks being carried out and the substances being used.

Common PPE in pest control includes gloves, disposable coveralls, eye protection, and suitable respiratory protective equipment when handling pesticides, biocides, dusts, or contaminated materials. PPE should always be selected based on the findings of your risk assessment and COSHH assessments.

Our Pest Control Risk Assessment Template and COSHH Risk Assessments will help you identify PPE requirements for common pest control activities, supporting you to select suitable protection without over- or under-specifying equipment.

How should pest control businesses record accidents and incidents?

All pest control businesses should have a clear system for recording accidents, incidents, and near misses, using a suitable accident report form to capture the details consistently and professionally.

Accident records help identify trends, review control measures, and demonstrate that incidents are managed responsibly. Recording incidents properly also helps you prevent repeat accidents by highlighting common causes, unsafe conditions, or gaps in training and supervision. Clear documentation can provide important evidence if legal action is taken following an injury or claim, supports your position with insurers, and helps protect your business reputation by showing you take health and safety seriously. This includes injuries to operatives, clients, or members of the public, as well as chemical spills, exposure incidents, aggressive behaviour, vehicle-related events, and near-miss situations.

Our Accident Report Form Template provides a simple and professional way to record incidents and is included within the Pest Control Health and Safety Template Bundle as part of a complete safety management system.