Cover Story: Controlling pests with integrated pest management

Everybody is familiar with the plaque, which swept over Europe, killing nearly one third of its population in 1347 A.D. The disease killed 70,000 to 100,000 people in 1665–1666 and continued to ravage Europe right until the seventeenth century.

 

Rat fleas were found to be the primary culprits in transmitting Yersinia pestis - the plague - causing bacteria from the bodies of rats to humans. The plague could have been contained if rats were killed en-masse, but at that time, medical science had not advanced to the level of understanding the etiology of diseases and their spread through carriers like rodents and insects. 

 

Today, we have advanced methods of pest control for we know that prevention and routine cleanliness are effective ways of reducing pests. We also know now that pests increase with the onset of summer as the warmth and the humidity seem to work in their favor. For instance, cockroaches do not favor cold weather and become more prevalent during the warm summer months. 

 

According to James Nicholson, sales and marketing manager of National Pest Control, the optimum temperature for the breeding of flies and cockroaches varies between 25 to 30 degrees centigrade, making the months from November to May ideal breeding months for insects in the UAE. “A drop in fly activity is seen in the very hot months from June through to September and seen to pick up again in the relatively cooler months of October. Whereas cockroaches breed throughout the year, due to the constant temperatures maintained within buildings, we will commonly see an increase in the number of ant call outs during the summer months as they seek cooler environments to shelter,” says Nicholson.

 

Pest control is a crucial requirement to the smooth functioning of any facility, says Nicholson. “You can have a beautiful building but a drop in occupancy level will be seen if rodents are spotted running through. Rodents are detrimental to the building as they can eat through cables and affect the functioning of air conditioning, security, electricity and security systems.”

 

In addition, cockroaches are particularly hazardous to human health as they live in dark, dirty and damp places where bacteria thrives. Rodents generally live in sewage and garbage areas and can transmit bacteria and disease from there. Excreta and urine from rodents and insects can get onto work and food surfaces which can cause diseases if the infected food is ingested.

While individual home owners call pest control companies on ad-hoc basis, the approach to pest control by property owners managed by facilities management companies is on a morepro- active scheduled basis. However, pest management is normally outsourced by FM companies because pest control forms a very small part of an FM company’s revenue generating activities, making it economically unrewarding to invest in a pest control license as well as specialized staff training and material.

 

“It is more economically feasible for an FM company to concentrate on profitable activities such as MEP and outsource pest control to specialized companies such as National Pest Control. This kind of partnership proves to be mutually beneficial for we have to deal with just one FM company which in turn negotiates with different clients. We also have one point of contact, which helps National Pest Control account- manage more effectively and allows our clients to receive the best level of service,” explains Nicholson.

 

There is no doubt that a pest management company is one of the leading partners in an FM operation, says Antoine Abdel Sater, country manager of Boecker Public Health LLC. While many services provided by an FM company can be done internally, pest management due to its delicate nature remains one of the most outsourced services of an FM operation.

 

The outsourcing, according to Sater, is mainly due to the fact that pest management is a complete science that involves inspections, identification of pests, laboratory testing on specific pest problems, and providing proper guidance to the FM or its end user about the importance of sanitation, pest proofing and hygiene standards before the application of pest control measures.

 

Moreover, the Pest Management Professionals (PMPs) who apply pest control measures in a certain facility have to undergo continued training on specific pests and specific pest management measures, new equipment, new chemicals, case studies, etc.

 

“A pest management company like Boecker enters into partnership with FM companies carrying with it a significant amount of knowledge and experience. The support given by Boecker to FM companies is not limited to the service itself but extends to the client’s health, property and the environment which makes companies like Boecker reliable, worry-free partners to FM companies,” adds Sater.

 

 

There are a lot of licensed pest control companies in the UAE, ranging from small companies employing a few people to companies like Boecker Public Health LLC and National Pest Control that have research teams and scientific methodologies of pest control like Integrated Pest Management. 

 

Pest management vis-à-vis simple pest control is a combination of scientific principles that govern the technical aspect of the operation as well as a systematic management concept that relies on communication. “Communication between the pest management company and the facility occupants is half way through the solution of pest problems,” says Sater, which is concretized in an internationally recognized interaction methodology used at Boecker called IPM (Integrated Pest Management).

 

IPM ensures that the clients are informed about the sanitation and maintenance (pest-proofing) problems existing in their facilities and solutions regarding these issues. Boecker then applies its pest control procedures and reports the application, the safety measures taken, the chemicals and equipment used and other criteria necessary to maintain service reports. 

 

Boecker also relies on interaction with the end users themselves and to this end organizes public awareness sessions, wherein the importance of pest management, the risks related to pests and the diseases and damages incurred are explained. Boecker also organizes sessions to discuss the importance of IPM and the role of the client in preserving hygiene and maintenance standards as part of a successful pest management program. Boecker’s award-winning website also addresses the public with facts and info-bites about pests, hygiene and the protection of health and property.

 

It is the same with National Pest Control, whose service is also based on a comprehensive Integrated Pest Management program with an aim to deliver effective pest control while at the same time reduce the volume and toxicity of chemicals used through sound management and technological practices.

 

Control techniques at National Pest Control include a combination of pest monitoring, good sanitation practices, education, appropriate waste management, building maintenance, physical, mechanical and biological pest control; and the use of pesticides only when required. Pesticides are used according to a predetermined set of pest management choices, formulations and application techniques that minimize the risk of exposure to both people and the environment. 

 

“Insects like cockroaches and flies can actually be controlled through good hygiene and waste management practices as well as the proper storage of goods, which leads to minimal usage of chemicals, especially in sensitive areas where food is present,” says Nicholson, while pointing out that chemicals are generally used as a last resort with more emphasis being laid on mechanical control of pests using traps and baits and the physical removal of breeding sources once they are identified.

 

However, Nicholson says that the public needs to understand that a certain amount of toxicity has to be present in the chemicals in order to get rid of the pests and it is safe as long as the staffs applying the chemicals are fully trained. “Bio-degradable chemicals are still under deliberations as to their efficacy of use. Once it is proven that they are as effective as chemicals, we can start using them.”

 

In fact, there are growing trends worldwide regarding reducing the usage of chemicals. Regulations are being imposed at the manufacturers’ level with regulations issued by the EPA (Environment Protection Agency) in the United States or the recent, ‘EU Bio-directives’ regulation that has imposed many regulatory steps aiming to ensure that products and the means of producing chemicals and pesticides is carried out in an environmentally-sound manner. 

 

The UAE has a well-developed product registration system for pesticides and it only allows the entry and usage of internationally recognized chemicals and pesticides that are manufactured in line with up-to-date world standards. Before any chemical is imported to the UAE, laboratory tests and highly elaborated documentation are to be provided for review and approval before a chemical is approved for registration.

 

“Pests are known to be resilient, and no matter how safe or not a chemical is, if applied by responsible professionals it will always serve the purpose of protecting families, investments and the delicate elements of our environment,” says Sater.

 

 

Pest control activity in the UAE is usually monitored and audited by the authorities, mainly by local municipalities to oversee that best practices in pest management are maintained and that the use of chemicals is judicious. Inspectors from the Dubai Municipality’s Pest Control Section regularly monitor the pest management services’ work cycle from company specifics up to client on-site application.

 

Sater informs as to how inspectors constantly audit approved pest control service providers to ensure that registered chemicals are used, an approved storing facility respecting the norms and standards is maintained, and the right chemicals are applied in the right place with measures taken to ensure safety towards operator, property and environment. In addition, the inspectors check to see if operators and supervisors are approved and certified and whether proper and well-equipped vehicles are used.

 

Nicholson lauds the initiatives undertaken by the Dubai Municipality that has seen Dubai undergo a sea-change over the last 5 to 10 years in the area of pest control. “The best way to judge whether a pest control service is safe is to check if the company is registered with the Dubai Municipality or not. The fact that the municipality regulates the chemicals coming in and monitors pest control companies on a regular basis shows the government’s concern for the environment and the population.”

 

In fact, National Pest Control works closely with the Pest Control Department of Dubai Municipality to implement new ideas and strategies. “The municipality’s job is not easy, considering the fast pace of development and growth of population,” said Nicholson.

 

Moreover, Nicholson holds the opinion that waste service providers should see that good waste management practices are implemented. “Bins and skips should be washed every time they are emptied before they get too dirty on the inside and attract rodents, cats and provide breeding sites for flies. An underground bin system is highly-recommended in areas where crane trucks can be operated to lift the bins for garbage collection for they eliminate the need for regular washing, reduce smell and lower pests incursions into the environment. Since the bins are below ground, the temperature of the waste is less and as a result, the breeding rate is less. We’ve seen these Moloks in use across many sites and they have been very effective”

 

Learning our lesson from the plague where one tiny insect, the flea, changed the course of history in Europe, it is better that efficient pest management is implemented in combination with good waste management practices to ensure health and safety for all.