New information from Department of Pesticide Regulation in regards to applying to Agriculture Continuing Education hours, click here.
Pest Control Operators of California (PCOC) is pleased to announce the winners of the 14th annual Fumigation Banner Bonanza Contest, sponsored by Douglas Products and Vikane® gas fumigant. The contest recognizes the promotion of structural fumigation through job site signage. This year, there were a record 72 banner entries.
 Many of you may remember the Willie Nelson song “On the Road Again?” Well that describes our new PCOC President Baron McDonald and myself as we begin meeting with all the districts throughout the state this coming year. These meetings are important because they allow us to gather information directly from our membership, and we also get an opportunity to discuss key issues impacting our industry. The districts are the foundation of PCOC and we need to ensure that we continue to grow our membership from the ground up. So at your next district meeting, bring a friend who isn’t a member of PCOC and let them see who we are and what we do. Remember, we’re all in this together so see you at the next meeting!
Chris Reardon
PCOC's Executive Vice President
PCOC Golf Tournament – September 21, 2017
Riverwalk Golf Club, San Diego, California
Golf Registration Form
Sponsor Registration Form
Schedule of Events that day:
11:00 AM Check In
12:00 PM Stotgun Start
5:30 PM Awards Banquet
Board of Directors Meeting – September 22-23, 2017
Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa, San Diego,California
To make your hotel reservations, please visit http://catamaranresort.com/ groups/PEST/ or call (800) 422-8386 and identify yourself with PCOC.
Schedule of Events for Friday, September 22:
10:00-11:00 AM Loss Prevention, Branch II & III Claims (CE Hours TBD)
11:00 AM-12:00 PM Pesticides & Water Quality in California (CE Hours TBD)
1:00-5:00 PM Committee Meetings, Click here for Schedule (Subject to change)
6:00-7:30 PM Reception
Schedule of Events for Saturday, September 23:
8:00 AM-12:00 PM Board of Directors Meeting
West Coast Rodent Academy – November 15-17, 2017
Registration form to follow
PCOC Golf Tournament – December 7, 2017
Information to follow
Board of Directors Meeting – December 8-9, 2017
Hilton Palm Springs, Palm Springs,California
Click here to make your hotel reservations
Pest Ed 2018 – January 16 & 18, 2018
Southern California - Quiet Cannon, Montebello, California – January 16, 2018
Northern California - Scottish Rite Center, Sacramento, California – January 18, 2018
Registration Form Coming Soon!
Legislative Days & Board of Directors Meeting - April 16-18, 2018
Hyatt Regency Hotel, Sacramento, CA
Information to Follow
Do Your Safety Incentives Violate OSHA Regulations?
You consider your company’s safety incentive program an effective way to promote safe behavior among your employees. But OSHA could see the very same program as unlawful discrimination and a violation of OSHA recordkeeping regulations and whistleblower protections.
According to an OSHA memorandum to compliance officers, certain incentive programs discourage the reporting of injuries and encourage discrimination against workers who report injuries. These include:
- Taking disciplinary action against all employees who are injured on the job, regardless of circumstances. Reporting an injury is a protected activity, and OSHA views discipline against an employee who reports an injury as a direct violation of whistleblower statutes.
- Taking disciplinary action against an employee who violates an employer rule about the time or manner for reporting injuries and illnesses. OSHA recognizes that employers have a legitimate interest in establishing procedures for receiving and responding to reports of injuries. However, such procedures must be reasonable and may not unduly burden the employee’s right and ability to report.
- Disciplining an injured employee because the injury resulted from his/her violation of a safety rule. OSHA will investigate whether the employer monitors for compliance in the absence of injury and whether it consistently disciplines employees who violate the work rule in the absence of an injury. Enforcing a rule more stringently against injured employees than noninjured employees may suggest the rule is a pretext for discrimination against an injured employee.
- Creating a program that unintentionally or intentionally incentivizes employees to not report injuries. For example, an employer might enter all employees who have not been injured in the previous year in a drawing to win a prize.
Acceptable Safety Incentives
A safety incentive program structured to recognize and reward positive behaviors, rather than punishing negative ones, is less likely to draw the wrath of OSHA. Suggestions include:
- providing tee shirts to workers serving on safety and health committees
- offering rewards for suggesting ways to strengthen safety and health
- throwing a recognition party at the successful completion of company-wide safety and health training.
For more information, please contact the PCOC Insurance Program Department of EPIC at (877) 860-7378 or, email us @ ProPest@epicbrokers.com. Also check out: www.pcocinsurance.com
Paul Lindsay
Senior Vice President
EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants
August
DIABLO VALLEY DISTRICT – August 22 @ 6:30 PM
CHAIR: Gordie Zilke – Valley View Termite Control
valleyviewtc@yahoo.com • (925) 787-2118
Zio Fraedo's, 611 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY DISTRICT – August 23 @ 6:00 PM
CHAIR: Tarry Howard – Hydrex
tarry_h@hotmail.com • (818) 437-6584
Presedente Mexican Restaurant, 11451 Sepulveda Blvd., Mission Hills
CENTRAL VALLEY DISTRICT – August 24 @ 6:00 PM
CHAIR: Nathan Metheny – Valley Wide Pest Control
nathan@vwpc.us • (559) 285-8181
Maria Callendar's, 3602 W Shaw, Fresno
September
SAN BERNARDINO/RIVERSIDE DISTRICT – September 6 @ 6:00 PM
CHAIR: Brian Swanston – Craig & Sons Termite and Pest Control, Inc.
brian@craigandsons.com • (909) 335-1486
Cask & Cleaver 1333 University Ave., Riverside
VINTAGE COASTAL DISTRICT – September 7 @ 7:00 PM
CHAIR: Rick Johnson – Silverado Termite Control
silveradotermite@yahoo.com • (415) 785-7480
Las Guitarras Restaurant, 1017 Richert Ave, Novato
SHASTA DISTRICT – September 12 @ 4:00 PM
CHAIR: Shawn McFarland – Trinity Termite & Pest Control
trinitytermite@yahoo.com • (530) 222-6990
Vittles Restaurant 2385 North Street, Anderson
SAN DIEGO DISTRICT – September 12 @ 5:30 PM
CHAIR: Garrett Thrasher – Thrasher Termite/Pest Control
garrett@thrasherpest.com • (619) 955-5121
Seaside Buffet 8998 Mirimar Rd., San Diego
SOUTHERN VALLEY DISTRICT – September 14 @ 6:30 PM
CHAIR: Patrick Clark – Clark Pest Control
pclarkzapbugs@aol.com • (661) 635-3535
Chalet Basque, 200 Oak St, Bakerfield
ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT – September 14 @ 6:00 PM
CHAIR: Heidi Aguilar-Alvarez – Your Way Fumigation
heidi@ywfumigation.com • (951) 232-2388
Dave & Busters Irvine Spectrum, Irvine
SAN GABRIEL DISTRICT – September 19 @ 6:30 PM
CHAIR: Gilbert Alvidrez – Downtown Pest Control
downtownpestcontrol@gmail.com • (909) 868-6773
El Sombrero 3550 Santa Anita Ave., El Monte
SANTA CLARA DISTRICT – September 20 @ 6:30 PM
CHAIR: Margaret Vargas – SOS Pest Control, Inc.
margaret@sospestcontrol.com • (408) 866-6609
Drying Shed, 402 Toyon Ave., San Jose
VENTURA DISTRICT – September 20 @ 7:00 PM
CHAIR: Dave Watkins – O’Connor Pest Control
Dwatkins@oconnorpest.com • (805) 482-2782
Marriott Hotel 600 East Esplanade Dr., Oxnard
SANTA BARBARA DISTRICT – September 21 @ 6:30 PM
CHAIR: Dave Watkins – O’Connor Pest Control
Dwatkins@oconnorpest.com • (805) 482-2782
Olive Garden, 1210 S. Bradley Rd, Santa Maria
October
LOS ANGELES / SOUTH BAY DISTRICT – October 19 @ 6:00 PM
CHAIR: Andi Moreno – American City Pest & Termite, Inc.
andi@americancitypest.com • (310) 542-8622
Alpine Village, 833 Torrence Blvd., Torrence
MONTEREY DISTRICT – October 17 @ 6:00 PM
CHAIR: Michael Reid – Cardiff Pest Control
cardiff@cruzio.com • (831) 475-4214
El Palomar, 1336 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz
San Gabriel District held their annual fishing trip early August. We heard that it was, by far, the best trip that they have had!! After they left San Diego, they traveled 60 miles south and reported calm waters and great weather. With 23 people on board, they caught 126 fish!!
This month the Structural Pest Control Board (SPCB) took a position on two bills, AB-710 (Wood) and AB-1687 (Bloom). AB-710 would require all Boards and Commissions, in the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA), to hold at least one (1) board meeting in rural California. The intention of this change is to encourage people in these rural communities to go to the meetings. If this bill were to pass, the licensees would incur a greater cost to attend the meetings because they would travel further and some people would opt out of attending for that very reason. The bottom line, there are not enough licensees in the rural areas to make the meeting location change practical. The SPCB staff are working on a draft letter to submit to the author’s office.
The draft letter, that was reviewed at the SPCB meeting, goes over the negative impact on human health, if proper rodent control methods are not continued. It goes on to say that there is a potential impact if untrained or unlicensed applicators are conducting treatments. This letter will be submitted to the author’s office.
These actions demonstrate that the SPCB will take a stance on issues when consumer protection is potentially compromised. Licensees of the SPCB are encouraged to attend the meetings, as they are open to the public with opportunities to participate. Check the SPCB website for meeting dates, times and locations. www.pestboard.ca.gov
Darren Van Steenwyk, BCE
LEED Green Associate
Technical Director
Clark Pest Control
PCOC Legislative Committee Chair
SPCB Vice President
darrenv@clarkpest.com
ATTENTION ALL OPERATORS, FIELD REPS AND APPLICATORS:
Division 19, Title 16, California Code of Regulations has been amended to add Section 1960 and now requires all licensees due to expire on June 30, 2016, or after, who have never been fingerprinted, to complete the fingerprint (Livescan) process as a condition of renewal. Please click here to see the full notice and the form needed. PLEASE NOTE: LICENSING WILL BE CONSIDERED EXPIRED IF THE PROCESS IS NOT COMPLETED.
Name/Company/District
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Member Type
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Join Date
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Mr. Ronald Hodges
Hodges Emergency Pest Srvs.
Big Valley District |
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R |
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7/17/2017 |
Ms. Amber Noar
Hitman Termite & Pest Control
Vintage Coastal District |
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S |
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7/21/2017 |
Mr. Mike Blume
Site One Landscape Supply
Midcal District |
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Z |
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7/24/2017 |
Mr. Mike Cantin
Statewide Fumigation
San Diego District |
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S |
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7/26/2017 |
Mr. Nathan D. Bradway
Bradway's Bug Police Pest Control
San Bernardino / Riverside District |
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R |
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7/28/2017 |
Mr. Peter C. Daniello
Cleanbrands, LLC |
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A |
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7/31/2017 |
Ms. Kimberly Gill
Aftermath Exterminating
San Diego District |
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R |
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8/1/2017 |
Mr. Edward Holmes
E & K Pest Control
San Gabriel District |
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R |
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8/7/2017 |
Mr. Carlos Morales
Hyer Pest Solutions
Midcal District |
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R |
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8/16/2017 |
NPMA Benefits
As a member of PCOC, you’ve got the benefits of a full NPMA membership in your corner. There are many benefits to membership, and we’re listing 10 of them here:
- Targeted education • Keeping your workforce’s continuing education requirements to maintain licenses can feel like a herculean task. Let us help you with our specialized educational tools.
- Free human resource counseling • The human dimensions of doing business often aren’t easy to balance. As a member, you have access to complimentary human resource counseling as part of your membership.
- Employee recruitment tools • When you’re looking to recruit qualified Pest Management Professionals or other staffers, put our expertise to work for you. We have the tools to help you bring in just the right people.
- Fleet management • Whether your company is running one route, two routes, or many more, you depend on your vehicles to get the job done. Your membership gives you access to tools that can make that task easier.
- Royalty-free professional pest pictures at no charge • Don’t worry about getting the right pest photographs for your company’s website or promotional publications. As a member, you can put our professionally photographed pest library to work for you.
- Background screening • Hiring the right people can be expensive and time-consuming. NPMA is an industry leader with its QualityPro certification program, which requires a background-checked workforce for compliance. Let us help you screen your prospective employees.
- Collection services • You can’t run a business without getting paid, and most of your accounts honor that responsibility. For those who don’t, we can help you recover what you’re owed.
- NPMA community website • Digitally collaborate with other NPMA members. Post and share your questions and get the answers you need.
- Online training • Pest management is an evolving science, with new breakthroughs happening all the time. New regulatory requirements also can be complicated and hard to stay on top of. We’ve got tools that can help you.
- NPMA health insurance exchange • Now small and mid-size PMP companies can enjoy the same benefit options accorded to larger firms, with cafeteria-style choices rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Beginning in October 2017, the NPMA health insurance exchange is available for you to find the right products to meet your company’s health insurance needs.
With NPMA membership and benefits accessible when you join PCOC, you’ll have a wealth of advantages at your fingertips.
Speaking of NPMA, this year’s NPMA Pestworld convention is right around the corner. B’MORE PESTWORLD 2017 will take place in Baltimore, Maryland on October 24 - 27. Below are some important links to help you get started:
TO REGISTER
http://www.pestworld2017.org/
TO FIND HOUSING
https://aws.passkey.com/e/48998004
A FLOOR PLAN TO FIND EXHIBITORS
http://pestworld2017.mapyourshow.com/7_0/floorplan
Hope to see you in B’more!
Nicole Keefe
Director of Marketing & Advertising
Clark Pest Control
PCOC's Public Relations Committe Chair
NPMA's Region #3 Director
nkirwan@clarkpest.com
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