News Briefs
Pest Control Operators of California
February 2013
Last month we held our Pest Ed seminars; one in Northern California and one in Southern California. For the past nine years we have put these on with Univar. This year, with more than 220 people in attendance, we achieved a record! In fact, over the past three years, we have gradually increased our numbers. This fact is important because it shows the need that all of us have within the industry to continually update our knowledge. By that, I don't only mean the requirements set out by the Structural Pest Control Board for its licensees. No, I refer to a much broader aspect of our great industry.
I believe that unless one is learning, one is not growing. Now, this may also refer to our personal lives, of course. But I do think that it applies to our professional lives as well. We have an industry which has evolved over the past six years (at least the time that I've been here)—from developing a definition of IPM to water surface regulations to second-generation rodenticide mitigation to...you name it. Whatever is next? The pest control industry is always moving forward, and we need to keep up or be swept up! PCOC is up to the job. Plus, YOUR association is also moving forward, learning new things, learning to do things more efficiently and providing new benefits to our members.
That is why we concentrate so hard on continuing education at PCOC. From Pest Ed and other seminars, to our online classes, to our Expo...you, and your employees, will find here a vast wealth of resources. Furthermore, look for more offerings in the future which will add more VALUE to your membership...watch this space!
TWO NEW ADDITIONS TO THE MEMBERS' VALUE PROGRAM (MVP)
PCOC is extremely pleased to announce the addition of two new affiliates to the MEMBERS' VALUE PROGRAM: G&K Services and LegalShield.
As a valued member of G&K Services, we promise that:
- Deliveries are complete, on time and in good repair.
- Billing is simple, accurate and predictable.
- Your needs are met promptly.
This program includes:
- National account discounted rental rates for all uniforms and facility services (mats, mops, towels, etc.)
- Additional 7% direct purchase discounts off our already competitive listed rates with promo code: TBA
- Free company emblems and nametags on initial install. Garment setup charges are waived for new accounts
- A large array of garments for members working in the pest control industry
Service benefits include:
- Accutrak barcode technology to count uniforms being serviced each week
- Weekly delivery report broken down by wearer
- Repair tracking and in-plant seven-point inspection stations
- Online invoice viewer (view up to 120 days of invoices at your convenience)
- Uniform service book for weekly documentation and request tracking
- Call tracking software supported by 24-hour issue resolution requirements
- National account level support to manage installations and future field support
For more information regarding G&K Services, please go to www.gkservices.com. To request an appointment with a local representative, please call Joe Cook, National Account Executive, at (916) 601-8170 or email joseph.cook@gkservices.com.
LegalShield offers month-to-month memberships that provide access to unlimited advice and counsel without you having to worry about the high hourly cost! Additionally, Kroll, Inc. via LegalShield has the only identity theft protection available in the USA that includes restoration, not just resolution. For one low, flat monthly fee, members can speak to attorneys specializing in all areas of law on pre-existing, current or future issues or, if the issue involves identity theft, sign a limited power of attorney with Kroll and be assigned a licensed private investigator who will restore your identity to where it was before being compromised.
Whether it is traffic tickets or accidents; personnel or personal issues; collections, tax questions or audits; contract and/or document review; a civil suit filed against you; customer complaints; or the neighbor did it again, or the cleaners, the contractor; maybe you need assistance with a loan modification or landlord/tenant issues—from the trivial to the traumatic, LegalShield is there to assist. Twenty-four-hour emergency access is also included no extra charge. Need a will? The preparation of a comprehensive last will and testament for you, your spouse and/or significant other is included in your membership at no additional cost. LegalShield is endorsed by the American Bar Association, President of the U.S Chamber of Commerce and the Association of Attorney Generals.
Mr. Rick Pauli and Ms. Laura Marley are PCOC's exclusive LegalShield representatives. Mr. Pauli will be contacting you, and PCOC is requesting that you schedule an appointment to see his presentation, or you may contact him at 888-986-9744 or rpwfg@aol.com and request a short presentation video be sent to you.
STRUCTURAL PEST CONTROL BOARD EXAM COMPROMISED
Recently, the exams for the operator and field representative licenses in all three branches have been compromised. The Board is currently making changes to the exams and will be updating their website in the next couple of weeks at http://www.pestboard.ca.gov/ to reflect the new upcoming tests. Exams may not resume until April, but that is still to be determined. Applicators' exams are unaffected.
STRUCTURAL PEST CONTROL MEETING UPDATE
The SPCB met on Jan. 17 in Sacramento. The Board approved an increase in the minimum bond requirement for California from $4,000 to $12,500 along with an increase in the minimum insurance requirement from $25,000 to $500,000. It also approved the elimination of the option to post a cash deposit. All of this will require legislation and if a bill is passed this legislative session, it would go in to effect on Jan. 1, 2014. To see all of the motions that were passed, go to the Board's website: http://www.pestboard.ca.gov/.
These increases were decided on in light of an NPMA survey of insurance requirements for other states. California was found to require one of the lowest minimums for bond and liability insurance.
2013 PCOC FUMIGATION BANNER BONANZA CONTEST
Dow AgroSciences will be sponsoring the 2013 Fumigation Banner Contest. The rules are the same as last year, and we have provided a link for you to view the complete set of rules here. The contest will run from March 1 through May 31, 2013. There will be four winners again this year.
Please email submissions to josh@pcoc.org.
Welcome to a new section of Newsbriefs! Here we will be giving 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 jenai@pcoc.org.
Geotech Supply of Lodi, CA is pleased to announce the hiring of John Woodward for its newly created position of National Sales Manager.
Visit http://www.naylornetwork.com/cpc-nwl/pdf/Endorsed_Programs.pdf to view the full article online.
Did you know that your odds of winning the lottery do not change based on the number of tickets purchased? When you choose your numbers, it doesn't matter how many other people have also purchased tickets for the drawing. You are playing the odds based on your number selection, not based on the number of players participating.
What are employees' odds of getting injured? In 2011, the odds of any one of your workers having a serious occupational injury or illness (one that required days away from work to recuperate) was about 0.0117. The odds of a fatal injury were much lower, at 0.0000035.
But just as it's highly unlikely you will win a big lottery prize, people do. And people are also injured every day because they play the odds and lose. However, in this case, the outcomes are much less desirable. What are the odds of an employee suffering a back injury because you look the other way when he doesn't use appropriate safety equipment or lifting techniques? What are the odds of an employee suffering a violent attack because someone didn't properly secure a door or gate?
Since there are living (and dead) examples of people losing the odds, the better question is, "Is the value of my co-workers' lives so little as to make it okay to play the odds?" Don't risk compromising your employees' safety, quality of life or life itself to play the odds. Don't let them take the shortcut or skip the step in the procedure. Don't ignore the use of personal protective equipment. Don't risk a life to play the odds.
The Odds of Dying
What are your odds of death by a particular event? The following statistics (2008) from the National Safety Council (www.nsc.org) show the odds of dying within a lifetime from certain selected causes.
- Motor vehicle incidents: 1 in 98
- Unintentional poisoning by and exposure to noxious substances: 1 in 126
- Falls: 1 in 163
- Assault by firearm: 1 in 321
- Car occupant: 1 in 368
- Pedestrian: 1 in 701
- Accidental drowning and submersion: 1 in 1,103
- Exposure to smoke, fire and flames: 1 in 1,344
- Air and space transport incidents: 1 in 7,178
- Exposure to electric current, radiation, temperature and pressure: 1 in 12,420
- Exposure to excessive natural heat: 1 in 13,217
- Contact with hornets, wasps, and bees: 1 in 79,842
- Earthquake and other earth movements: 1 in 97,807
- Lightning: 1 in 134,906
- Bitten or struck by dog: 1 in 144,899
- Flood: 1 in 558,896
Source: National Safety Council estimates based on data from National Center for Health Statistics
Many of these statistics indicate the odds of dying from external factors that you have no control over. But when at work, you can greatly improve the odds for safety by taking control of the work environment and ensuring employees perform the job the right way every time. Beat the odds – make the right choices when it comes to being safe at work and at home. For more information, please contact the PCOC Insurance Program department of Jenkins Insurance Services at (877) 860-7378, or email us at propest@leavitt.com.
NPMA LOGIN FOR JOINT MEMBERSHIP
LOGIN: 313501
PASSWORD: PCOC
PCOC website password for 2012-2013 effective July 1, 2012: "killbugs"
Department of Fish & Game
www.dfg.ca.gov
Department of Food & Agriculture
www.cdfa.ca.gov
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
www.schoolipm.info
Structural Pest Control Board
www.pestboard.ca.gov
Find Your Legislator
www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html
Healthy Schools Act
www.schoolipm.info
