We just arrived at Lake Tahoe and we're putting final touches on our event. We are looking forward to a great next few days and it looks like the weather will be gorgeous as well. Hope you all spend quality time at the Exhibit Hall because they are here for you, and we really appreciate their time and efforts on our behalf.  

Chris Reardon
PCOC Executive Vice President

Board of Directors Meeting – September 21-22, 2018
Laguna Cliffs Resort & Spa, Dana Point, California
Information to Follow

West Coast Rodent Academy – November 7-9, 2018
Irvine, CA
Registration information will be released to PCOC members FIRST in late September

Board of Directors Meeting – December 6-8, 2018
Hilton Palm Springs Resort, Palm Springs, California
Information to Follow

PCOC would like to give a HUGE thank you to our 2018 Expo Sponsors! 

Diamond Sponsors

Platinum Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Vikane® gas fumigant has been the market leader in structural fumigation since 1961. Such longevity for a product brand in the pest management industry is rare. It is a model of a working partnership between the manufacturer, distribution, branch 1 fumigators, branch 3 termite companies and state regulatory.

The evolution of Vikane continues under Douglas Products ownership in a number of ways.

We are investing in reaching out to homeowners to help them understand the structural fumigation process and benefits. We have developed a website, FumigationFacts.com, to help do that. We have invested in a video, “How to Prepare Your Home for a Fumigation with Vikane.” We have a downloadable checklist to help homeowners prepare their home. And we operate a toll-free hotline to answer homeowner questions.

We are investing in support of branch 3 termite companies. In part, that is raising awareness of the homeowner resources. We also are conducting sales training with companies.

For fumigators we are recognized for leadership in training and product stewardship. We conduct quality assurance reviews to educate crews at the jobsite to be aware of best practices and stewardship.

We work with industry to help ensure workable regulations. Our goal is to be able to protect property from drywood termite damage while also ensuring safety for applicators, the public and the environment.

Underlying the success of Vikane is the fact that a single treatment is proven to eliminate 100 percent of a drywood termite infestation because it penetrates the whole house — even wood in areas impossible to inspect or treat. Drywood termites cost California property owners an estimated $300 million in damage each year. Vikane also is important in the battle against bed bugs, and is labeled to eliminate other wood-destroying insects, cockroaches, spiders and rodents. It can be applied to an entire structure or in a container to rid these pests from furniture, electronics and other home goods without damage. Vikane is manufactured in the United States by Douglas Products to world-class quality standards.

A central fact of our ongoing success has been our involvement in PCOC. We do this in a number of ways — being active on association committees, sponsoring the annual PCOC Banner Contest, exhibiting at the annual trade show, advertising in The Voice and more. PCOC gives us a focus point for our industry partnership and involvement.

Heather Kern
Commercial Leader, Pest Management Division – North America
Douglas Products

An increasing number of employees are teleworkers these days. According to Global Workplace Analytics:

• 50 percent of the U.S. workforce holds a job that is compatible with at least partial telework, and approximately 20-25 percent of the workforce teleworks at some frequency.
• 80 percent to 90 percent of the U.S. workforce says they would like to telework at least part time. Two to three days a week seems to be the sweet spot that allows for a balance of concentrative work (at home) and collaborative work (at the office). http://globalworkplaceanalytics.com/telecommuting-statistics

In another survey, 86 percent of teleworkers reported being more productive, with lower stress levels and a better balance between work and home life. Employers that allow telecommuting enjoy increased employee loyalty and lower costs.

Despite these benefits, telecommuting does have some drawbacks. Teleworkers are as likely as other office workers to suffer from back injuries and repetitive strain problems. Your obligation to compensate employees for work-related injuries and illnesses applies no matter where they work. Follow these guidelines to reduce the risk of telecommuting-related risks:

Employer ‘s Responsibilities:

1. Provide clear job descriptions, goals and reporting procedures for your telecommuting employees.
2. Ensure your workers’ compensation coverage applies to telecommuters. For example, if you have out-of-state teleworkers, make sure you have “other states” coverage.
3. Verify that the organization’s general liability policy applies to the acts of telecommuters.
4. Provide workers with the right equipment and support.
5. Offer training and guidelines for efficient teleworking.
6. Ensure your employees know what to do in the event of a work-related injury and how to report a claim. Stress the importance of early reporting.

If your workers’ compensation insurer has a network of preferred providers, make sure your telecommuting employees have a list of nearby providers and their contact information.

Employees’ Responsibilities:

1. Provide work space with ergonomically correct chair, desk and computer equipment.
2. Complete a safety checklist certifying the space is free from hazards. This checklist is not legally binding, but details management expectations and, if signed, assumes employee compliance.
3. Verify that having a home work space will not violate the terms of their homeowners insurance policy, community CC&Rs or local ordinances.
4. Immediately report any work-related accident to the supervisor with all medical documentation related to the accident. If the employer’s workers’ compensation claims manager or insurer deems an inspection necessary, the employee agrees to cooperate with the inspector.  

For more information on telecummuting risks or for more information or help, please contact the PCOC Insurance Program professionals of EPIC at (877) 860-7378 or, email us at ProPest@epicbrokers.com. Also check out: www.pcocinsurance.com

Paul Lindsay
Senior Vice President 
EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants

This has been a busy legislative year and it’s not over yet. There are a few bills that we continue to watch this legislative session. The first is SB 721 (Hill), which has to do with certifying the structural integrity of decks. This was a two-year bill that didn’t make it past the deadline in January so was held at the Assembly desk after passing out of the Senate in early January. It appears that the author wants to amend to include SPCB licensee’s, which would concern PCOC, so we are watching the bill carefully to see what the new amendments would look like. The other bill we’re watching is AB 2138 (Chiu, Low), which would allow felons to receive a license. This would go against the purpose of the SPCB and the idea of consumer protection so we are watching both these bills and will keep you informed on the status as they proceed through the legislative process.

Darren Van Steenwyk, BCE Technical Director
Clark Pest Control 
LEED Green Associate
PCOC Legislative Committee Chair
SPCB President
darrenv@clarkpest.com
(209) 224-4629

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Frequently Asked-For Websites

Department of Fish & Game
https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/

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

California 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
www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html

NPMA's QualityPro Accrediation Application
www.npmaqualitypro.org/apply