Thread: Pest control

@Chelsea
This may of interest?
https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/jobs/agr...7?bof=sNyFqfwb

I'd be surprised if you get any change from $1000 once all is said and done for a Controlled Substance Licence. There is the training, compliance certifier's fee, fit and proper test and licence fee for WorkSafe.

Thanks all. Have passed on the replies.

Originally Posted by Ronin007

I've been doing a fair bit of pest control for local lifestyle blocks and small farms, ever since I realised that I might need a fallback option when my job gets jab-mandated. Been doing ok so far, not enough to make it a full-time job, but decent enough to put some extra coin away.

Now though, I'm putting together a plan for a local authority that needs some goats cleaned out. Of course that means a lot more paperwork. The one thing I'm really struggling with is putting together a health and safety plan. I mean, I know how to keep myself safe, and not shoot anyone, but the council needs more than that.

Does anyone have a template I could use, or something I could plagiarise a wee bit?

A H&S plan needs to reflect the latest bit of legislation. In this case the H&S in the workplace Act 2015 (HSAW Act 2015). (plus there'l be other bits around Hazsubs, fuels, firearms etc).

The easiest way (other than someone throwing you a bone) is to go through the Act and everywhere it mentions something that you need to do, you need to write a statement saying that you will do it. Simple really, but lots of writing.

You are also going to find yourself, a one man band, as a PCBU, an employer and employee. Sounds shit, but thats they way stuff is these days. So your plan needs to account for all these hats you wear! Then there's working alone policies, the list goes on and on!

Consultants like to drive around in the latest generation utes, so they charge 3-5K for these templates, even if they don't fit the activity being undertaken. I know as I see a few of these. They become more a noose for the company to hang themselves with, than a useful bit of writing to help you run your business safely with:

Step 1. Familiarise yourself with the Act.

Step 2. Familiarise yourself with running a business (I know its just you, but IRD doesn't work that way )

Step 3. Write up a H&S plan (It'll run to 20 odd pages unfortunately)

Step 4. Go to work!

Originally Posted by Ronin007

I've been doing a fair bit of pest control for local lifestyle blocks and small farms, ever since I realised that I might need a fallback option when my job gets jab-mandated. Been doing ok so far, not enough to make it a full-time job, but decent enough to put some extra coin away.

Now though, I'm putting together a plan for a local authority that needs some goats cleaned out. Of course that means a lot more paperwork. The one thing I'm really struggling with is putting together a health and safety plan. I mean, I know how to keep myself safe, and not shoot anyone, but the council needs more than that.

Does anyone have a template I could use, or something I could plagiarise a wee bit?

Maybe I’m being a bit dumb but I’m presuming a health and safety plan would be similar to what we have for the farm. Part of my vet tech studies doing health and safety planning was very much the same as the farm.
I can go dig it out but ours is essentially a run down of all risks on the job, steps on how to prevent those risks, a booklet of risks found on the job and steps taken to remove those risks we must fill in, a register for injuries (some people like to have the slightest knock noted in the register to show its being utilised), basically all hazards and steps taken to reduce those hazards and training and licensing that has been taken for handling of substances, firearms etc. dated if possible too. Ours has a big checklist of tasks and training we have undertaken and dates of when the certifications were done. Contact lists for next of kin, local doctors/ medical Centers etc and a well stocked first aid kit and “where is this located”. Hope this helps. I could be completely off the mark for what your looking for but ours is a folder full of all of the above.

@Ronin007 and @Chelsea

https://www.worksafe.govt.nz/the-too...our-workplace/

I had a bespoke H&S system put together for my pest control business, it covers everything I needed it to and is setup to induct and cover both contractors and staff for future expansion. It was done by a HASANZ member and is exactly the sort of stuff the council and forestry etc will want to see. At about $3k it was an investment but worth it when you think about the risks involved and the sort of contracts you will want to be going for. No I won't share it.

You need decent insurance as well, I struggled a bit to find someone happy to cover the sort of work I'm doing, most of them pretty much hang up on you when you mention firearms.

Realized this morning that my reply sounded a little like I'm putting you off the idea sorry. That's not the case at all, just make sure you set yourself up properly and you will love it. There is plenty of work out there and you will fairly quickly find the groove that your business will fit into, mine ending up specializing in Pukekos of all things!

Line up a decent H&S package, get good insurance, set up a social media and online presence for a bit of marketing and make sure you get clued up on how to run a business properly financially/tax wise.

It is rewarding work and I can go weeks without being on my PC at all which was amazing after coming from a crappy corporate job!

A year ago, I gave up my $150k full-time civil engineering job with a US Tech company that developed guidance and control systems to get into the hunting and pest management industry as my own business.

What is can say from my experience is to go and work for an established business for 12 months or longer to understand and study the industry. It's a very tight industry where everyone know each other, so coming from the outside is tough.

A CSL ticket will cost you $1k and you will need to be able to display your understanding of the H&S act, be pre-qualified with a provider, carry about $5m liability insurance, or $10m for some councils and forestry companies ($2-3k per year).

There are trapping training course that qualify you for Ospri work for monitoring etc, but will cost you too. But a lack for experience will count you out of most contracts.

If only doing fur recovery or pest food recovery, you competition is everyone else that will work for free, including recreational hunters and trappers.

If truly serious about it, get money in the bank, quit any excessive spending and reduce living costs. Study the industry and work hard. It's not a way to make a heap of money in the short to medium term, but if you understand and have studied ecology well, you will get there in the end.

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I've got a couple of clients who do pest control work as their core business. One does well, the other less so.
The more successful one is bring in around $200k a year for the 2 man team before Expenses.

His observation is to get the work being offered by regional councils and Maori organizations. They have more money available, are willing to spend it on pest control, and pay their Bill's on time.

But to get these roles, you need all the correct paperwork and health and safety policy. They won't let just anyone loose in public areas with firearms or poisons.

For the rest of the jobs, whether it makes money comes done to your efficiency in removing pests. And making sure people value your work.

Another job that may interest somebody...
https://www.seek.com.au/job/56036106...bMail4.02-3882