A Pest Control Technician Reiterates What
Steve Tvedten Has Been Saying For Years
I work in the pest control industry and have for five years
and have witnessed serious violations and problems within the industry that will
not clear up any time soon.
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Subject: A Pest Control Technician Reiterates What I Have Been Saying For Years......
Date: Sat, 26 May 2001 16:02:23 -0400
From: Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization: Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)
To: Paul Helliker <phelliker@cdpr.ca.gov>
Director, State of
California, Department of Pesticide Regulation
cc: Christine Whitman whitman.christine@epa.gov
Dear Mr. Helliker,
I thought you might like to read an e-mail we just received from a Pest
Control technician:
I work in the pest control industry and have for five years
and have witnessed serious violations and problems within the industry that will
not clear up any time soon. I want to
change the direction and the techniques used in pest control to make it safer
for clients, their children, pets, and myself. I am not alone within the
industry in seeking these changes, however, a good-ole boy system is in place
and the only route to change is not through external pressure and lawsuits, but
from those within who have a conscience and a clear vision. Violations-Here are
some examples:
EX 1: Within one week of hiring I was sent to do a flea and
tick treatment. I had absolutely no idea how to perform such a service, but was
told to spray the entire inside of the home with an organophosphorous
insecticide including couches, La-Z-Boys, and areas where the pet slept or lay.
Ex 2: Was sent to do a termite job despite having no
license to do such a treatment. Used a pesticide that was not labeled for
termites, but was unaware that such use was a violation. The job was overseen by
a technician who was fired from another company for incompetency and was also
unlicensed for that type of service.
Ex 3: Observed a technician mixing liquid Diazinon for
outdoor spraying; when I asked what rate he was using, he said he didn't know -
he was just guessing how much should be needed and then treating the customers
home with it.
Ex 4: Later discovered, once I was working for another
company, that this technician was illiterate while were taking a license
preparation course. When called upon to read a section pertaining to state law,
he was unable to read the selection. This same person still passed the test
despite being unable to read labels, do basic math, or even correctly identify
insects and spiders. Something is rotten in Denmark without question.
Ex 5: When I followed the labeled directions for mixing
liquid insecticides, I was told that I was using too much product. They
suggested using a fraction of what the labeled requirements were, in effect,
spraying with little more than water.
Ex 6: Witnessed a "salesperson" badger an elderly
woman into a termite treatment despite the fact that she did not have termites.
When she asked to see evidence of the termites, he changed tactics and told her
that it would prevent her home from ever having termites, but that if she did
not do the service, she would have termites within a short matter of time and
that her home would be severely damaged. This is absolutely false, but being
new, I was even suckered in.
Ex 7: Within a month I began to seriously question whether
my health was at risk after having been drenched with liquid Diazinon due to
faulty equipment used by this company. I began to sweat frequently, shake, have
headaches, and was diagnosed as having a thyroid problem only weeks later. I was
told it was all in my head, despite never having pesticide "paranoia".
I quit. I began to research insecticides and whether they were as
"safe" as I had been led to believe. I began to make astounding
discoveries such as the information regarding product "safety" which
is little more than propaganda coming from the chemical manafacturers. I am
fascinated by "bugs", so I knew that I would most likely end up in the
industry again, despite my bad experiences with Company P.
The difference this time was that I was not only going to
scout out the company that I would be working for, but, I would also be educated
and aware of alternatives to pesticides, effects of pesticides related to the
"inert" ingredients, and would not work for a company that used
organophosphates. I eventually found the perfect place - the company did not use
organophosphates, was run by a man with a masters in entomology, had a full time
Ph, D. in entomology on staff, and even had a green, or pesticide free, service
for those with MCS run by the staff entomologist and under his direct
supervision. While here, I have learned so much about the fascinating world of
insects, spiders, and mammals that
I could not even begin to share a fraction of that knowledge in an e-mail
correspondence.
My advice to people seeking a pest control company is this:
Get educated. There are many pest problems that can easily be handled safely by
the homeowner themselves. However, there are situations that the homeowner is
really not prepared to deal with, so this is where education is vitally
important. Closely question the technician to gauge his/her level of knowledge
and competency. If the technician is uncooperative or surly, resents answering
questions, then simply dismiss them at the door and contract with another
company.
DO NOT SIGN A CONTRACT WITH A COMPANY WITHOUT READING IT,
OR KNOWING ALL OF THE DETAILS INVOLVED. This really gets many people into
situations that they would just as soon avoid
if at all possible. Know what you are signing, and if there is anything
that you do not understand, contact a manager or supervisor within the company
to have it fully explained to you. Some companies have CYA (cover your ass)
clauses disguised in small print legalese cleverly buried in the contracts that
can become BYA's (bite you on the ass) should you ever have a problem or seek
re-imbursment for shoddy services rendered.
Any technician who tries to assuage your concerns with the
line "It's a safe chemical", is a red flag to go running in the other
direction. We know for a fact that it is not safe. There is nothing safe about a
class of products whose names terminate in the root "cide" - to kill.
Avoid getting caught in the web of lies - there are some spiders lurking in this
profession, and you, the consumer, are little more than flies in those
instances. Once more, get educated.
Well Mr. Helliker,
Are you going to let the people get educated? Or will you continue to
demand that the only "legal" way to "control" pest problems
is by using/misusing your "registered" POISONS?
More and more people are beginning to realize that there is nothing
"safe" about your "registered" POISONS?
I recently wrote that in order fo anyone to be able to kill the innocent,
they first have to kill their own conscience - this technician obviously still
has a conscience - do you?
Respectfully,
Stephen L. Tvedten
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