California's Unemployment Insurance fund went into the red nearly two years ago. It had reserves of $6.5 billion a decade ago. Our state has well over two million unemployed workers and half of them collect unemployment insurance benefits. The Employment Development Department paid more than $20 billion in benefits last year.

Clearly, UI benefit payments are lifelines for millions of Californians; not only the 26 weeks of state benefits but also the up to 73 weeks of extended benefits that are financed by the federal government.

The UI fund is funded from an employer-paid payroll tax but it's a revenue system unadjusted for years after benefits were nearly doubled 10 years ago when the fund had that $6.5 billion cushion. Sooner or later the state will have to rebuild the fund which is where employers have to watch out!

A new report by Legislative budget analysts points out that while California's unemployment benefits are fairly low in comparison with other states, California's criteria for receiving benefits are relatively easy and the state's recipients tend to stay on the rolls longer.

Depending who is in political control at the Capitol, either employers will suffer when payroll taxes are increased or eligibility requirements will be tightened...or some combination of both. Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed one bill to increase employer taxes...it is uncertain whether Governor Brown shares the same sentiments.

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IN MEMORIAM

John D. Morgenroth, PCOC Past President 1965, April 12, 1927 – October 15, 2011

Chuck Holmes passed away on October 15, 2011

 

 

2012

January 10

 

MEMBERSHIP CONTEST

Who wants to win $250? As of this printing there are NO entries in the current membership contest. You could win $250 just by recruiting one new member and becoming the only eligible person to win.

Click HERE for a full set of contest rules.

RECRUIT RECRUIT RECRUIT

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AFRICANIZED HONEYBEE CERTIFICATION

Due to low registration numbers we have cancelled the class scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 14^th in Montebello. We have sufficient registrations to continue with the classes scheduled for Dec. 13^th & 15^th. If you did not perform the AHB update as required, your listing for AHB Certification has been removed from the AHB website. In order to have your listing placed back on the website you must retake and pass one of the scheduled AHB Certification classes. See this NewsBriefs for links to registration for each class. The next set of AHB Certification classes will be scheduled sometime in the spring of 2012.

 

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DPR PROPOSES RESTRICTIONS IN URBAN AREAS TO PROTECT WATER QUALITY

The Department of Pesticide Regulation proposes to amend section 6000 and adopt sections 6970 & 6972 of the California Code of Regulations (3 CCR). The proposed action would identify pesticides that have a high potential to contaminate surface water in outdoor nonagricultural settings and require pest control businesses, including maintenance gardeners, that apply these pesticides to take actions to minimize that contamination. The proposed regulatory action pertains to 17 different pyrethroid pesticides including Bifenthrin, Cypermethrin, Deltamethrin, Esfenvalerate and Permethrin. The proposed regulations would reduce the amount of pesticides available for runoff to surface water. Restrictions would include applications to soil surface, mulch, gravel, lawn turf or groundcover; horizontal impervious surfaces and vertical structural surfaces such as walls, foundations, windows, doors, fencing and granule formulations. In addition to DPR's proposal to limit applications to specific methods in order to reduce surface water contamination, DPR proposes to prohibit any application under certain circumstances. These requirements are designed to prohibit applications during precipitation that can carry these pesticides in runoff water to surface water and to reduce the amount of these pesticides that could be carried by rain water to surface water.

The PCOC Water Quality Task Force, chaired by Darren Van Steenwyk, is currently studying these proposed regulations and will prepare comments for submission to DPR. If you wish to comment on the proposed regulations please contact Darren Van Steenwyk at darrenv@clarkpest.com.

 

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PYRETHROID INFORMATION WEBSITE FOR PEST MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONALS

The Pyrethroid Working Group is now offering an online resource dedicated to keeping PMPs abreast of new labeling and regulatory requirement related products containing widely used pyrethroid pesticides.

The site, http://www.pwg2pmp.com/, is intended to serve as the "go-to" pyrethroids resource for PMPs. Professional pest control operators may soon be required to make changes in how they apply pyrethroid pesticides. The new requirements contained in updated surface water regulations proposed by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation and in label changes required by the United States EPA will help ensure that pesticides are applied in a manner that minimizes runoff that may reach surface waters.

The website offers an overview of the new labeling requirements in development at EPA, as well as related regulations under consideration at the state level. The website provides PMPs with an easy way to monitor and participate in the regulatory process by enabling them to subscribe to email alerts which will notify them of new developments.

The Pyrethroid Working Group is comprised of the following companies: AMVAC Chemical; Bayer Crop Science; Cheminova, Inc; DuPont Crop Protection; Stine-Haskell Research Center; FMC Corporation; Agricultural Products Group; Syngenta Crop Protection and Valent BioSciences Corporation.

 

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BANK ROBBER DISGUISED AS EXTERMINATOR

SAN DIEGO -- The FBI is searching for a man accused of robbing a Rancho Santa Fe bank while disguised as an exterminator.

According to FBI Supervisory Special Agent Darrell Foxworth, the unidentified man walked into a Pacific Western Bank in the 6100 block of El Tordo on Nov. 4 wearing a suit used by an exterminator and equipped with a dust mask and plastic pesticide sprayer.

Foxworth said the man then flashed a weapon and demanded money from the teller.

10News showed several San Diegans' surveillance photos taken of the bank robber, and some said the man looked to be more of a threat to bugs than people.

Jonathan Webster, who works directly above the bank, chuckled when he saw the pictures.

"Crime Stoppers, you're looking for what? A guy in a pesticide suit? [Laughter] Good luck," Webster said.

Webster told 10News the outfit may be the perfect disguise, and he added, "It's a way to get entry, and then mask yourself up and disappear."

Dana Evanson, who has banked at the Pacific Western branch for two years, found it more fearful than funny.

"First of all, who would want some unknown chemical sprayed [at] them?" she said. "Also, if somebody is crazy enough to do that, they could do something else, so I would comply with whatever his wishes were."

If sprayed, the severity of a reaction would depend on what's in the container, which investigators can't tell from photos.

 

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON PCOC/UC BERKELEY GOLF TOURNAMENT

From: Gail Getty

Dec. 8^th is our annual golf tournament. This is the only fundraiser event we conduct each year. Many of you have noticed a fee increase on the player forms. The good news is that the prices are the same. However, we found that 99% of you purchased the mulligan/putting green contest/raffle ticket packets so we added this as a player package at the same price as past tournaments. This will streamline the check-in process; no need for getting credit cards out, waiting for receipts, etc. Just head over and enjoy the camaraderie of the day.

This is our five-year golf tournament anniversary. Our grand prize this year is an iPad. We want to thank all of you who have participated in past tournaments with an overwhelming number of you playing in ALL past tournaments. There is the same amazing record with many of our sponsors. It's a day to have fun and celebrate friends, colleagues and the incredible industry we are in. Hope to see all of you on Dec. 8^th.

 

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Northern California Fumigators Note 50^th Anniversary of Vikane® Gas Fumigant

Research and the 50^th anniversary of the commercialization of the Vikane® gas fumigant were the focus of the Vikane Fumigator Group of Northern California, who met Oct. 13 at scenic Mountain Winery in Saratoga, Calif. The group of industry representatives heard a presentation by Dr. Vernard Lewis of the University of California, Berkeley.

Dr. Lewis reviewed the importance of research on the evolution of the structural fumigation industry. He began his research with Vikane in the early 1990s and it helped confirm that structural fumigation with Vikane eliminated drywood termites in entire structures.

Dow AgroSciences sponsored Dr. Lewis' presentation and the dinner. The event raised more than $2,000 to support research and public outreach of the Urban Pest Management Center at the University of California, Berkeley.

To conclude the evening guests each were presented with a 50^th anniversary champagne flute etched with the Vikane gas fumigant logo, and a toast was made by Janet Rowley, West Coast district sales manager for Dow AgroSciences: "To the survivors of change, to the successors of change and to another 50 years together!"

®Trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC.

Vikane is a federally Restricted Use Pesticide.

Always read and follow label directions.

 

 

Earlier this year, the Institute of Medicine estimated that U.S. businesses lost between $297.4 billion and $335.5 billion in productivity due to chronic pain. Chronic pain affects some 116 million Americans—some of whom might be your employees.

Since workers' compensation claims must start with a work-related injury or illness, reliable estimates of what pain itself costs the workers' compensation system every year do not exist. However, OxyContin recently became the top prescribed prescription drug in the workers' compensation system, in terms of dollars paid.

The lack of an agreed-upon definition for chronic pain makes any study of the topic difficult. The International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) defines chronic pain as "...pain without apparent biological value that has persisted beyond the normal tissue healing time (usually taken to be three months)." It can also include symptoms of anxiety, depression, fear and anger.

Many studies have pointed out the link between mental state, particularly depression, and the experience of pain. For workers with depressive tendencies, a holistic intervention program that acknowledges the mind/body link could help prevent chronic pain. However, the purpose of workers' compensation medical treatments is to get the worker well enough to return to work as soon as possible. Insurers might be reluctant to refer a worker to a holistic pain management program, which can be expensive and with unproven results. Another reason for their reluctance could stem from the nature of the workers' compensation agreement itself—workers' compensation laws require the employer to compensate injured workers for lost wages and to provide medical treatment and rehabilitation services. It does not obligate them to pay for pain and suffering. This can leave employees in pain and employers coping with reduced productivity.

Some ideas that can help your organization reduce the pain of lost productivity:

✔ In cases of chronic pain, consider treatment from a holistic center or pain specialist. Seek referrals from occupational health spe­cialists—pain specialists vary widely in training and approach. Some use primarily noninvasive techniques, such as drugs, physical therapy and counseling, while others specialize in invasive techniques, such as surgery. Ask pain specialists for information on outcomes.

✔ If your workers' compensation insurer will not cover so-called alternative treatments, take a look at your state's workers' comp laws. Some states require workers' compensation to cover specified alternative treatments, such as chiropractic therapy, acupuncture and massage, when prescribed by a treating physician. Others, such as California, allow certain alternative providers to treat industrial injuries without a physician's referral.

✔ If an injured employee has exhausted alternative treatment benefits, see if your group medical program will pay for such treatments. The savings you realize by returning an injured worker to the job free of pain could outweigh any cost to your medical program.

✔ Focus on prevention. Fitter employees are less likely to experience painful or degenerative conditions such as arthritis after an injury. Fit individuals also recuperate more quickly from surgery and injuries. Wellness programs can encourage employees to become fitter.

✔ Look at ergonomic conditions. Poor ergonomics can contribute to or worsen conditions such as muscle strain, headache and other pain-causing conditions.

For more suggestions on preventing injuries and illness, please contact the PCOC Insurance Program department at Jenkins Insurance Services at (877) 860-7378.

 

NAME COMPANY DISTRICT	MEMBER TYPE	REFERRED BY
Mr. Rick K. Pauli	A
LegalShield/GoSmallBiz.com
BAY AREA
Ms. Kathie A. Porter	S	Mike Katz
Western Exterminators
ORANGE
Mr. Chris White	Z
Univar
VENTURA

 

TEMPORARY NPMA LOGIN FOR JOINT MEMBERSHIP

LOGIN: 313501

PASSWORD: PCOC

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PCOC website password for 2011-2012 effective July 1, 2011:"npma"

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Department of Fish & Game
www.dfg.ca.gov

Department of Food & Agriculture
www.cdfa.ca.gov

Department of Pesticide Regulation
www.cdpr.ca.gov

Find Your Legislator
www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html

Healthy Schools Act
www.schoolipm.info

Structural Pest Control Board
www.pestboard.ca.gov

 

For an additional charge, you may access a 24-hour hotline providing consultation by qualified medical doctors on pesticide-related medical emergencies. This service is provided free of charge to Peacock Group insureds.

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