What Do Pest Control Workers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Pest Control Workers apply or release chemical solutions or toxic gases and set traps to kill or remove pests and vermin that infest buildings and surrounding areas. They also record work activities performed.

Other tasks include:

• Inspect premises to identify infestation source and extent of damage to property, wall, or roof porosity and access to infested locations.
• Recommend treatment and prevention methods for pest problems to clients.
• Post warning signs and lock building doors to secure area to be fumigated.
• Spray or dust chemical solutions, powders, or gases into rooms, onto clothing, furnishings, or wood, or over marshlands, ditches, or catch basins.
• Clean work site after completion of job.
• Drive truck equipped with power spraying equipment.

We asked Pest Control Workers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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53% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 64% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Pest Control Workers record work activities performed. They recommend treatment and prevention methods for pest problems to clients.

A typical day for a Pest Control Worker will also include:

• Clean work site after completion of job.
• Set mechanical traps or place poisonous paste or bait in sewers, burrows, or ditches.
• Spray or dust chemical solutions, powders, or gases into rooms, onto clothing, furnishings, or wood, or over marshlands, ditches, or catch basins.
• Drive truck equipped with power spraying equipment.
• Inspect premises to identify infestation source and extent of damage to property, wall, or roof porosity and access to infested locations.

We asked some Pest Control Workers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	72% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	27% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	81% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	44% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	11% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	64% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Pest Control Workers also cut or bore openings in building or surrounding concrete, access infested areas, insert nozzle, and inject pesticide to impregnate ground. They may also direct or assist other workers in treatment or extermination processes to eliminate or control rodents, insects, or weeds.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Pest Control Workers Set mechanical traps or place poisonous paste or bait in sewers, burrows, or ditches. They might also Clean and remove blockages from infested areas to facilitate spraying procedures and provide drainage, using brooms, mops, shovels, or rakes.

In addition, they Measure area dimensions requiring treatment, calculate fumigant requirements, and estimate cost for service.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Study preliminary reports or diagrams of infested area and determine treatment type required to eliminate and prevent recurrence of infestation.

To some Pest Control Workers, it is also their responsibility to Position and fasten edges of tarpaulins over building and tape vents to ensure air-tight environment and check for leaks.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Pest Control Worker, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/building-and-grounds-cleaning/pest-control-workers.htm

http://www.aspcro.org/?q=control-officials