As a pest control professional, people trust you with their safety. People may ask "Is that pesticide safe, or is ittoxic?" While you may be tempted to say "it's safe", that may be interpreted to mean many different things.
Question: Is it safe?  | If you answer: "It's so safe you can drink it." "It's safe, trust me." "It's non-toxic, all natural." | The client may think: No precautions are necessary. I don't need to do anything. Natural products can't hurt me. |
Imagine if you were asking your doctor about the safety of a new drug. It may satisfy you to hear the doctorsay, "It's safe." However, you may want to know about the potential risks and precautions in order to feel satisfiedthat you're getting the whole story from your doctor. Similarly with a new pest control treatment, a clientmay want to know about potential risks and precautions. At NPIC, we hear callers often say that they don'thave enough information to feel comfortable with the treatment. We also hear situations where precautionswere not taken because the potential hazards were not conveyed. This can be negative for your business andpotentially risky for your clients.
So, how can you answer the question, "Is it safe?"
- Ask questions and listen
Many people have specific reasons why they are concerned whether it be for their children, pets, or the environment.Listening and asking questions about their concerns shows that you care about safety. It can alsohelp you identify where you might need to take additional precautions.
- Discuss the level of risk, rather than safety
Every pesticide is toxic if the exposure level is high enough. Therefore, no pesticide is entirely safe. Safety isbased on each individual's level of risk tolerance and is subjective. When you are talking to the public, considerquickly explaining why it's better to talk about the level of risk.
See AlsoBhutan set to plough lone furrow as world's first wholly organic countryPesticides & Human HealthImpact of pesticides use in agriculture: their benefits and hazardsChemical safety: PesticidesConsider using the following phrases in order to reframe the question, "Is it Safe?"
"Well it's not safe for the bugs! It's designed to be toxic, so it's not 100% safe. However,your risk is low, and we can take steps to make it even lower."
"There is always risk associated with any pesticide application, but your safety isour top priority. Let's talk about your concerns, and the toxicity of the chemical,and then we can go over steps we have taken to minimize any risks."
"I don't want to give you the impression that no precautions are necessary, so Iwon't say it is 100% safe. If you follow the instructions we talked about, the riskwill be very low."
- Discuss potential risks and optional precautions using the risk equation:
Toxicity
You can discuss product toxicity using the signal word, or product SDS. NPIC also maintains a library of activeingredient fact sheets. Consider discussing potential side effects from an extreme exposure so they can knowwhat to look out for.Exposure
People are more willing to accept a risk they feel they can control. Provide some optional ideas they can use tocontrol the risk by minimizing their exposure.
- Refer people to NPIC. 1-800-858-PEST (7378)
Sometimes clients have persistent questions about risk and they might be more comfortable talking to an objectivethird party. Consider referring these clients to NPIC at Oregon State University. NPIC Specialists are trained totackle questions on challenging topics like cancer, pregnancy, and environmental impacts in an unbiased, science-basedfashion. Call and test our services for yourself.
Communicate Your Pest Management Approach
People often want to know that the treatment you have chosen is the most effectiveoption that meets their standard of safety. In order to meet this demand, somebusinesses use Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM includes techniques likesanitation, monitoring, and exclusion, using pesticides as a last resort. Research indicatesthat IPM methods, including low toxicity pesticides, can be more effectivethan pesticides alone.
Better control + lower risk = more satisfied customers
As a pest management professional, you may already be an experton IPM strategies for the pests you deal with regularly. Ifso, consider sharing your approach with your client. New effectiveIPM strategies for control are constantly being researched.Consider staying up-to-date with some of latest effective IPMtechniques by contacting your local extension office.
Conclusion:
You can build your trust and reputation with clients and members of the public by answering the question, "Is itsafe?" in a thorough and thoughtful way. Much like a doctor who describes the potential risks and optional precautionsfor medicine, you can provide information about a pesticide's toxicity and precautions without causingundue alarm. If time is short, or the questions become too long, give people the toll-free number for NPIC: 1-800-858-7378.
