As anyone in business in will know, the fast pace of modern life presents a constant battle of trying to balance daily work schedules, emails and client communication while managing the task at hand and the inevitable complications and issues that arise. Despite this, there is still the fundamental requirement that you never lose sight of the scope of a pest inspection and the potential for an insurance claim.
As anyone in business in will know, the fast pace of modern life presents a constant battle of trying to balance daily work schedules, emails and client communication while managing the task at hand and the inevitable complications and issues that arise. Despite this, there is still the fundamental requirement that you never lose sight of the scope of a pest inspection and the potential for an insurance claim.
In the event of a claim, insurers will request documentation relating to the incident in question. If the claim concerns termite damage, the contents of the inspection report will be the subject of particular scrutiny. A common outcome of this process is for the claims assessor or technical manager to ask why the inspector did not make a recommendation.
Many report formats include standard wording designed to assist the inspector. When making a recommendation, it is unlikely that standard wording will relate directly to the specific situation. An example of this might include noting dampness in a wall detected by a moisture meter. The report might direct the reader to the standard wording entitled ‘moisture’. However, that section might only relate to moisture in the subfloor and include no mention of high moisture in walls.
The point here is that you should never rely on standard report wording. Always make appropriate recommendations that are specific to the situation. While standard wording can be helpful and may save time it only serves to offer an overview, and will not sufficiently address all issues.
For example, a report might state that ‘a more invasive inspection of this area is considered essential to determine the cause of the high moisture’. This type of content is simple and specific and does not rely on any other section of the report.
If you choose to refer the reader to standard wording in the report, it is essential that you understand the exact meaning of that wording. Be sure it is relevant to the situation. Equally, if there is insulation in the roof void impeding the inspection, the following recommendation would be suitable: ‘An invasive inspection is not within the scope of this inspection; however a more invasive inspection of the top plates around the wet areas is strongly recommended. See section 9’.
To ensure that you always fulfil your duty of care and reduce the risk of a successful claim being made against you, spend a little more time on report writing – it will be a good investment that will pay dividends in the future.
Gary Byrne, Technical Manager, Rapid Solutions
