Guidelines for hiring pest control applicators

Friday, March 07, 2014

The Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality wants the community to be mindful of health and safety regulations when procuring the services of professional exterminators or pest control applicators.? A pesticide is any substance used to control pests. Pests may be target insects, vegetation, fungi, etc. Most control the pests by poisoning them. Unfortunately, pesticides can be poisonous to humans; some are very poisonous, or toxic, and may seriously injure or even kill humans. Others are relatively non-toxic.

Pesticides can irritate the skin, eyes, nose, or mouth. The most important thing to remember is that you should always use caution whenever you work with any pesticide!

Homeowner advisory

For those building a home or commercial building, DEQ reminds you that prior to conducting pesticide treatment on concrete structure or building foundation projects, there is some information you should be aware of, including obtaining a permit to apply pesticides for pre or post construction projects.

Only a professional pest control applicator can perform the structural treatment. The applicator must be trained and licensed. Your familys health and safety may be compromised if the company or applicator is not permitted, licensed or certified, said Reina Camacho, manager for the Pesticide and Storage Tank Branch at DEQ. ??In selecting a professional termite or pest control company, residents can call DEQ to verify the permit status of these applicators. Camacho said residents can also inquire if operators or applicators of a particular company are licensed and certified. ??This is important, because the application of pesticides and other chemicals must be performed or supervised by a certified pesticide applicator. A companys track record and appropriate insurance are other factors to consider when selecting a professional, she said.??Pesticide applicators operating on Saipan are Advance X Terminators, No Ka Oi Termite & Pest Control, Pacific Daiken Corp., and Western Pest Control.??DEQ also recommends that homeowners:

-hold a pre-application meeting with the hired company to review what pests to be controlled;

-review the extent of the problem;

-check the active ingredients in the pesticide chosen;

-review potential adverse health effects and typical symptoms of poisoning associated with the active ingredient;

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Guidelines for hiring pest control applicators