News Briefs

Every year the California Pest Control Industry gathers together, in what is the largest annual convention and trade show for our industry in the country, outside of NPMA’s PestWorld. This year, we again have a program with increased value and format.

Expo 2015 is June 25-27 at Hyatt Regency Resort in Monterey!

Our Expo program is designed to provide interesting and informative speakers, an exhibit hall where PCOs can learn about new products, and also to provide CE hours. Friday is reserved for Continuing Education. Our Keynote Speaker will be terrific! Mike Potter, Professor and urban entomologist at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Potter is a world-renowned expert. His presentation is entitled: "Bed Bug Nation. Are We Making Any Progress?"

One of the most important functions of this premier event is in the networking that takes place among the attendees: PCOC companies, manufacturers and suppliers. Several manufacturers and suppliers, for instance, take this time to roll out new products because of the high value placed on the Exhibit Hall. This year we again have a large Exhibit Hall with 66 booths...most have already been taken!

This year’s golf tournament is at the Delmonte Golf Club — next door to the hotel.....and then there are those other famous courses very close!

The Installation Banquet is a time when we can all be proud of our association: celebrating the dedication and commitment of individuals who provide the leadership in PCOC. By the same token, celebrating what PCOC is all about: our members.

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION AND SPECIAL HOTEL ROOM RATE DEADLINES ARE MAY 22 — REGISTER TODAY. Go to PCOC.org/events.

I look forward to seeing you all in Monterey!

MEMBERS’ VALUE PROGRAMS

From the time I arrived at PCOC, we have been working to add new member benefit programs for our members to utilize. There are a vast number of products and services that our industry uses. But it doesn’t just stop there. We don’t just research and partner with companies, but I also follow up on them. I double check their performance to evaluate if they should continue to be a partner. Below is a list of companies partnered with PCOC:

 Epic Brokers – PCOC Insurance Program

ChemTrec

Med-Net

PixelMill – Web Design

G&K Services – Uniforms

Worldpay – Merchant Services

Atlas Accounting – Payroll & HR Resources

T-Mobile

Reference Services Inc. – Background screening, physicals, drug-testing

In & Out Traffic School – Online

Market Hardware – Web Marketing

Northwestern Mutual

Enterprise – Vehicle Fleet Services

A.R.M. Services – Debt. Collection

Legal Shield – Pre-paid Legal Services

Danielle Moore – Employee Handbooks

 If you have any questions about any of these services, please feel free to contact me. I also plan to create a new brochure and updating the information on our website, www.pcoc.org (see the Members’ Value Programs tag). There will be more to come...

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HEAT ILLNESS PREVENTION REGULATION AMENDMENTS

On February 20, 2015, the California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board voted on new changes regulations regarding heat illness prevention. The new regulations focus on potable water requirements, shade, preventative cool-down resting periods, high heat procedures, emergency preparedness requirements, acclimatization, training and planning.

The revisions, which the Division of Occupational Safety and Health say are necessary based on the Division's enforcement experience, are aimed at specifying the requirements for provision of water and shade. It also ramps up requirements under the high-heat provisions and adds new language on emergency response procedures, acclimation and training. Specifically:

1. Water must be "fresh, pure, suitably cool" and located as close as practicable to where employees are working, with exceptions when employers can demonstrate infeasibility.

2. Shade must be present at 80 degrees, instead of the current 85, and accommodate all employees on recovery or rest periods, and those onsite taking meal periods.

3. Employees taking a "preventative cool-down rest" must be monitored for symptoms of heat illness, encouraged to remain in the shade and not ordered back to work until symptoms are gone. Employees with symptoms must be provided appropriate first aid or emergency response.

4. High-heat procedures (which will remain triggered at 95 degrees) shall ensure "effective" observation and monitoring, including a mandatory buddy system and regular communication with employees working by themselves. During high heat, employees must be provided with a minimum 10-minute cool-down period every two hours.

5. Emergency response procedures include effective communication, response to signs and symptoms of heat illness and procedures for contacting emergency responders to help stricken workers.

6. Acclimation procedures including close observation of all employees during a heat wave — defined as at least 80 degrees. New employees must be closely observed for their first two weeks on the job.

To see the amendments made to the California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section 3395, See attached PDF.

Fumigation Banner Contest — March 1-May 31, 2015
FLIER

Leadership 2015 — May 29-30, 2015

Catamaran Resort — San Diego

PCOC Expo 2015 — June 25-27, 2015

Hyatt Regency — Monterey, Calif.
Attendee Flier
Exhibitor Flier
Hotel Reservation

17th Annual PCOC Fishing Trip — August 6-7, 2015
FLIER

Board of Directors Meeting — September 25- 26, 2015
Catamaran Resort — San Diego

Board of Directors Meeting — December 11-12, 2015
Palm Springs Hilton — Palm Springs, Calif.

Alcohol Abuse and Injuries

How bad is the alcohol abuse problem, and should employers be concerned? According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), nearly 14 million Americans (1 in every 13 adults) abuse alcohol or are alcoholics. A study published in Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research (2007) found that 22 percent of patients admitted to a hospital emergency room had elevated blood alcohol levels.

Some research indicates that the aftereffects of drinking could create nearly as many problems as being intoxicated at work. A worker who shows up to work hung over can suffer from drowsiness, inattention, poor judgment and delayed reflexes —all of which can increase the potential for accident. Alcohol and drug use can also complicate recovery, making injuries more costly to treat. 

 The Role of a Supervisor

 It’s not the supervisor’s place to diagnose an alcohol problem, but to monitor and review employees’ performance, attendance and behavior while at work. If any of these indicate possible drug or alcohol abuse, the supervisor should take the next steps to deal with the problem. Steps include:

• Document. Whether you’ve noticed a drop in productivity, increased absenteeism or problem behaviors, note the specifics in the employee’s personnel file.

• Refer. If your organization offers an employee assistance program, refer the problem employee to it for a confidential diagnosis and referrals to the appropriate resources.

• Discipline. The most effective way to get alcoholics to deal with the problem is to make them aware that their job is on the line. They need to know that they must improve performance and conduct or possibly lose their job.

• Comply. Follow any established company policies or guidelines to avoid accusations of harassment, discrimination or invasion of privacy.

• Test...if. If your organization has a published policy of conducting random drug tests or after an accident, then test. Otherwise, requiring an employee to take a test for suspected drug or alcohol abuse can backfire. Testing only certain classes of employees, such as hourly workers or minority workers, can lead to discrimination claims. Hospitals and physicians are sometimes reluctant to test people with occupational injuries, because workers’ compensation does not cover injuries where alcohol or drug use is involved. Try to get a test whenever an employee goes to the hospital for a work-related injury.

• Follow up. When an employee has an accident involving drug or alcohol use, follow up to make sure he or she has completed the rehabilitation program recommended by a licensed mental health professional. Follow-up and adhering to disciplinary procedures can help you avoid accidents and create a safer, more productive workplace.

 For more suggestions and other information on improving safety in your organization, 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.