| November 2015 | Past Issues | Printer-Friendly | Advertise | Affiliates Search | Find a Pest Control Operator | PCOC.org |
EVP NOTES
One of the decisions we will all have to make (again!) in the near future on the statewide ballot, is whether California should return to a part-time legislature. Some states have never gone to a full-time legislature, as California did in the early 1960s. Texas (a big state), Oregon and Nevada, for instance, all meet every two years. States which have a part-time legislature encourage more of a ‘citizen legislator’ (i.e. not many lawyers!) – those states do not pay their elected officials very much either. By comparison, the California Legislature comprises of over 60 percent lawyers and their total pay, including per diem, is more than $200,000 a year. The size of the legislature is also a concern: the Speaker of the Assembly has over 200 people working for him. In part-time states, they have very few staff. The argument goes, however, that California has just become too complex to move to a part-time legislature. That we need a legislative body that meets every year, to deal with a state government which administers an economy that is sixth or seventh in the world (depending on the price of the Euro at the time, we vie with France). We also need the staff support to function. Many of you have heard me refer to Sacramento as ‘Disneyland North’ – where everyone gets taken for a ride. Also, that the type of person who runs for office in California has never had to write on the front of a paycheck or hold a payroll down on a Friday, wondering whether there is enough money to pay everyone. Moving to a part-time legislature may help solve some of these problems and it is certainly an appealing concept in theory. After all, maybe a part-time legislature would not have the time to pass laws which burden small business owners and are sometimes too complicated to understand. The legislature would only have the time to focus on the most important things in life rather than playing around in other people’s business. Do you sense frustration here?! One alternative might be to have just a budget session in the off year.....we shall have to see how this all shakes out....stay tuned!
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
IN THE NEWS
APPLICATORS’
RETESTING WAITING PERIOD REDUCED The Structural Board looked into the matter and as of October 16, 2015, the wait period has been reduced to 15 days, allowing potential licensees to take the test more often. This is a huge win for the industry, and we at PCOC want to thank the Structural Pest Control Board for hearing our plight and reacting quickly after the board meeting. We especially want to thank Susan Saylor, the executive officer of the Structural Pest Control Board, for all her efforts to quickly facilitate the matter. A HEART FELT GOODBYE By the time this article goes out, I will no longer be the Director of Membership and Technical Services at PCOC. Another opportunity presented itself within our industry, and I have taken a position with North American Home Services as head of their Pest Department. I would like to thank all the individuals in the industry that have been such a huge help to myself and PCOC in general. So many of you have been great resources of information and have taken the time to help better the industry and myself. I have learned so much from so many and have also come to consider so many of you my friends, and I will be happy to still be involved with PCOC as a member. This industry means so much, and I have really gotten to see how so many supposed competitors come together to not only achieve common goals, but to genuinely help and support each other. I know that you will show the same courtesy and helpfulness to whomever replaces me. Thanks again to you all. UPCOMING EVENTS
2015
Palm Springs Hilton — Palm Springs, California
Hotel Reservation PAPCO Golf Tournament Registration PAPCO Golf Tournament Tee Sponsorship 2016 Pestech 3.0 — January 5-7, 2016 San Jose Marriot- San Jose, California NPMA Event Registration PestEd South- January 19, 2016 Quiet Cannon- Montebello, California PestEd North- January 21, 2016 Red Lion Woodlake Hotel- Sacramento, California 
Comings and Goings
Welcome to a new section of Newsbriefs! Here, we will give news from our members: new hires, retirements, etc. If you have some news you would like to share, please send a short sentence or two to breann@pcoc.org. MEMBER NEWS
MEMBER VALUE PROGRAM
PCOC MONTHLY INSURANCE/SAFETY TIP
The Workplace Safety Gender Gap
According to recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of fatal work injuries among women rose 12.5 percent in 2014. Still, only 8 percent of all fatal occupational injuries involved women. As in prior years, men accounted for 92 percent of all fatal occupational injuries. Why is that? First,
many of the most dangerous occupations, including roofing and construction, are
dominated by men. Women who work in those industries often work in clerical or
other less risky positions.
Men also account for
more traffic fatalities. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that
transportation accidents continued to lead the causes of workplace fatalities
in 2014. Transportation injuries accounted for 40 percent of fatal workplace
fatalities. The majority of these fatalities were caused on roadways involving
motorized land vehicles.
Men tend to account
for more driving-related accidents in general, whether work-related or not.
Employers can help address this risk by providing driver safety courses and
encouraging all employees to attend and by screening anyone who will drive on
the job for their driver safety records. For further assistance in improving
safety at your worksite, please contact the Programs Department at EPIC,
Edgewood Partners Insurance Center, at (800)
234-6363 or visit epicbrokers.com
What Safety Regulations Apply to Your Business? When it comes to workplace safety, ignorance is no defense.
OSHA safety and health regulations often apply to all businesses, regardless of
size.
If you’re not sure of which regulations apply to your business, OSHA provides some resources. It has created a Web-based step-by-step guide to help small employers identify some of the regulations that might apply to them. You can find this OSHA Compliance Assistance Quick Start at https://www.osha.gov/dcsp/compliance_assistance/quickstarts/index.html. OSHA also offers employers an on-site consultation service. Trained state government staff will visit your site and provide free advice. The service is completely separate from any enforcement programs that OSHA operates, and is entirely confidential. Sessions identify and uncover potential workplace hazards and are intended to help small business owners improve their workplace safety and health systems. If that isn’t sufficient incentive, then this might be — you could qualify for a one-year exemption from routine OSHA inspections if you participate! Find out more at https://www.osha.gov/dcsp/smallbusiness/consult.html. For more information or assistance with safety and compliance issues, please contact the PCOC Insurance Program Department at EPIC, (877) 860-7378 or visit www.pcocinsurance.com. NEW MEMBERS
FREQUENTLY REQUESTED INFORMATION
NPMA LOGIN FOR JOINT MEMBERSHIP LOGIN: 313501 PASSWORD: PCOC
Department of Food & Agriculture Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR)
www.cdpr.ca.gov DPR on Facebook www.facebook.com/capesticideregulation DPR on YouTube (see "playlists" for videos pertaining to new surface water regulations) www.youtube.com/user/californiapesticides DPR on Twitter twitter.com/ca_pesticides DPR LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/california-department-of-pesticide-regulation Healthy Schools Act http://apps.cdpr.ca.gov/schoolipm/ Structural Pest Control Board www.pestboard.ca.gov Find Your Legislator |
|
.jpg){kind=link}
Pest Control Operators of California |
 |
