How current are a pest control company’s technician training records?
Ask for a record for each technician showing what training they completed, when, and what is due next. Records that are up to date, signed and match who actually works in the field are a good sign. Gaps or old dates call for questions.
Start with a list of everyone who treats customers’ properties, including seasonal staff and subcontractors. Match that list against the training files. Is there a record for each person, and does it show the date, the topic and who delivered it? A technician working without a file is the first thing to raise with the seller.
Then ask how renewals are tracked. Who watches for expiry dates, and what happens when one is missed? A simple calendar kept by one reliable person works well; a system nobody opens does not. Ask your lawyer which credentials the work requires and how they are shown to a customer or inspector.
Finally, look beyond paper. Ride along with a technician and watch the work. Do they follow the company’s own method, use protective gear and explain a treatment clearly to the customer? Ask how new staff are trained and supervised, and who checks their first jobs. If the person who trains everyone is the owner, plan how that duty will pass to someone else after the sale. Keep in mind that a file in good order can still hide a weak habit in the field, so weigh the paper and the practice together. Ask a few customers how technicians explain their work and leave the property.
Key takeaways
- Match the training files against everyone who actually treats properties.
- Find out who tracks expiry dates and what happens when one lapses.
- Watch a technician work and see how new staff are trained.
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
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