Pest Control Services And COVID-19
At Lavellan Pest Solutions we have modified our protocols and adjusted some of our procedures in order to keep our staff and clients safe. Some of these changes are temporary, while others will become permanently incorporated into our normal operations. As an industry that deals with many insects, animals, and chemicals, many of our existing safety and cleaning protocols were already robust. The following are some of our new and existing safety protocols.
Any staff member showing symptoms of any kind is being asked to stay home, self-isolate, and monitor for 14 days.
Any staff member returning from any location outside of Alberta, or returning from any large gathering of people inside of Alberta, is being asked to stay home, self-isolate, and monitor for 14 days.
Service vehicle interior contact surfaces are being cleaned and sanitized every 2 hours while in service.
Clients are being urged to pay for services via e-transfer or with a credit card over the phone. Debit transactions are still being accepted where no other form of payment is possible. Cash and cheques are currently not being accepted at this time.
Portable Point-Of-Sale devices are being cleaned and sanitized after each use.
In-person staff meetings and training sessions have been temporarily discontinued, and replaced with video conferencing and virtual training materials.
Any investigators who are required to enter a personal residence or place of business to perform pest control tasks must wear protective boot covers and protective gloves. If the investigator will be working within 4 meters of other people, then a face mask is also required. All tools and equipment used will be cleaned and sanitized following each job.
All staff are being asked to respect social distancing instructions while working as well as on their personal time.
All staff are being updated daily (sometimes multiple time a day) with current developments and any changes to protocols required.
At Lavellan Pest Solutions, we are working hard to keep everyone healthy, safe and pest-free.
The following is an excerpt from a letter coming out of the National Pest Management Association, and the Canadian Pest Management Association, in relation to the pest management industry being an essential service.
“The professional pest control industry, an essential service, is responsible for the protection of public health, food and property. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) recognizes pests as a significant risk to the food chain (https://www.inspection.gc.ca/preventive-controls/pest-control/eng/1511206644150/1528205213795) and in 2015 Canada introduced the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SOR/2018-108) to protect the food chain. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) publication, Public Health Significance of Urban Pests outlines the dangers associated with pests in both commercial and residential settings. Lastly, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have prepared a list of significant public health pests https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/list-pests-significant-public-health-importance, many of which are controlled by the professional pest control industry. We play a vital role in protecting our nation’s public health and food supply. Pests can spread diseases such as West Nile virus, Lyme disease, salmonellosis, hantavirus, and encephalitis. Stinging insects force half a million people to the emergency room every year. Cockroach and rodent allergens trigger asthma attacks in children; rodents contaminate or consume about 20% of the world’s food supply and bed bugs can cause allergic reactions. The importance of the pest control industry to the nation as an essential service cannot be understated.
Additionally, the pest control industry is trained, tested and certified in the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Technicians routinely employ the use respirators, eye protection, gloves, and clothing to conform with safety requirements established by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) and Health Canada. With Covid-19 on the mind of all Canadian citizens, and the world, we want to be sure we continue to serve the country in our battle with the diseases spread by pests.
As an essential service industry, we will continue to service the nation’s food production facilities, grocery stores, medical institutions, multifamily housing units, warehouses, homes and businesses. We cannot afford to have our medical facilities, groceries stores or homes uninhabitable due to pests and pest related diseases, particularly as we tell citizens to stay home. There is not a segment of the food industry that could comply with federal sanitation and health regulations without an adequate pest control program.”
Appended below is the language that was used in San Francisco and the California municipalities that have placed orders in regard to essential services.
“For the purposes of this Order, “Essential Businesses” means: i. Healthcare Operations and Essential Infrastructure; ii. Grocery stores, certified farmers’ markets, farm and produce stands, supermarkets, food banks, convenience stores, and other establishments engaged in the retail sale of canned food, dry goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, pet supply, fresh meats, fish, and poultry, and any other household consumer products (such as cleaning and personal care products). This includes stores that sell groceries and also sell other nongrocery products, and products necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences; iii. Food cultivation, including farming, livestock, and fishing; iv. Businesses that provide food, shelter, and social services, and other necessities of life for economically disadvantaged or otherwise needy individuals; v. Newspapers, television, radio, and other media services; vi. Gas stations and auto-supply, auto-repair, and related facilities; vii. Banks and related financial institutions; viii. Hardware stores; ix. Plumbers, electricians, exterminators, and other service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintaining the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences, Essential Activities, and Essential Businesses”