Cold weather safety measures that can keep your pest control spray equipment from freezing

With winter comes additional risk for PMPs and the need for cold weather safety methods.  Deep freeze conditions can cause considerable damage to pest control spray equipment. Some of the most expensive parts are most at risk of freeze damage.  Water can freeze in lines, and the resultant expanding ice can damage pumps, spray guns, line strainers (filters), hand sprayers, etc. In addition to the added cost of equipment repairs, customer appointments will be missed while equipment thaws out or is repaired. How to prevent frozen pipes?

Cold weather safety tips
There are a number of steps you can take to protect yourself and reduce the risk of freeze damage to your pest control equipment.

Equipment Design

Work with your equipment provider to build in preventative measures. Some suggestions:

• Install a valve between tank and filter to shut off the flow of water through the system.
• Install a drain at a low point in the system to allow water to drain out.
• Install a fill with a removable plug to allow the addition of anti-freeze to the pump.
• If you live in an area with sudden freezes, it may be wise to request that your equipment vendor use flexible hose instead of pipe, wherever possible.

Operations.

• Train your technicians to be aware of and take steps to prevent freeze damage. Remind them that damaged equipment impacts their ability to provide great service to customers and hurts the company financially.
• Train your technicians to always release the pressure when they are done spraying. Systems under pressure will experience greater damage from freezing than would otherwise result.   This is especially true for handheld compressed air sprayers and backpacks.
• Train technicians not to use frozen equipment until it thaws out.  Using or running frozen equipment will make a small problem worse (i.e., more expensive, longer delays, etc.)
• From the department of the truly obvious: store vehicles in places where the equipment will not freeze.
• Wrap hoses with insulating material to reduce freeze risk.
• Cover equipment with insulating blankets at night.

Purchase an electric battery heater/thermal wrap to keep your pump warm and cozy at night

• Build a pump heater by hanging a light bulb inside a cardboard box over your pump.  Be sure there is no fire risk.
• Remove filter cup from body to drain filter.
• Drain water from equipment before an expected freeze.
• Add anti-freeze to equipment being stored for the winter.
• If storing pest control sprayer for the winter, consider removing  pump to perform annual maintenance.  

Awareness and preparation are key to preventing freeze damage to your spray equipment. Remind technicians of their responsibilities to prevent damage to company equipment. Perform spot checks to ensure your policies are implemented. Track damage by technician to identify repeat offenders and problems with equipment design.

Read what other web users have to say about cold weather safety.

For more ideas, read Greess’ blog at www.SprayEquipmentBlog.com or follow him on Twitter.

Comments

[Robin Smith]

In Britain, Health and Safety Commission regulate the health and safety issues at workplaces. Formed in 1974, the prime objective of this commission is to protect employee's health and safety by ensuring risks in the changing workspace that are controlled properly.

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