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overview

Too often when confronting infestations of weeds, insects, or rodents, workplaces resort to using chemicals. Experience quickly teaches that this approach provides at best a temporary solution. Worse, reliance on chemicals creates potential health and environmental risks both indoors and outdoors.

Instead of regularly hiring vendors to spray chemicals, a growing number of building managers are contracting out for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) services.

As defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, IPM is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management built on common sense practices. In combination with available pest control methods, IPM programs use the latest comprehensive information on the life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment. The programs emphasize managing pest damage by the most economical means - with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment.

For vendors practicing IPM, pest prevention involves regularly inspecting buildings and grounds for conditions that attract pests. Along with inspection goes deterrence, and so vendors recommend ways to create surroundings inhospitable to pests. Upon discovering pests vendors that practice IPM typically use pesticides as a last resort, preferring the least-hazardous approach possible to effective control or reduction.

IPM Practices in Schools
In 2000, the Minnesota State Legislature passed the Janet B. Johnson Parent's Right-to-Know Act (Statute 121A.30), which requires notification of pesticide use and encourages use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) methods in Minnesota's K-12 schools. Passage of this law will help to focus greater attention in the state on pest management approaches that are safer for school environments, ultimately reducing children's exposure to pesticides.

Components of an IPM Program

An IPM program combines several practices to combat pests. To ensure success, the workplace must expect to take several steps:

• Monitor regularly for pests.
• Keep a formal records system for pest levels, date, locations, weather, and other conditions which may give rise to pests.
• Determine what level of pests is acceptable and when control measures are needed.
• Integrate control strategies that are effective against the pest, least disruptive to natural pest controls, and least hazardous to human health and the environment.
• Designate a staff member to work with the pest control vendor and building maintenance personnel to be sure IPM recommendations are followed.
• Maintain an evaluation system to determine the effectiveness of various control measures.

performance

Enlisting the services of IPM vendors is an effective and environmentally sound approach to pest management. Unfortunately, the false assumption that vendors carry the sole responsibility for controlling pests can undermine their work. Too often, vendor recommendations are ignored and problems persist. For IPM programs to work, building managers and occupants must recognize that they also have a role to play. One key is hygiene - only by keeping areas clean can pests be denied the food and water needed to survive. Also important is sealing cracks in foundations, which deny pests shelter.

Training can help. Arrange for the pest control company to train office and maintenance personnel in steps that will minimize common pests in the building.

availability

Although Minnesota does not yet provide special certification for vendors trained in IPM practices, Minnesota law does require any person applying pesticides for hire to be licensed as a commercial pesticide applicator. Applicators are required to receive training that includes topics related to IPM. As a result, most vendors are at least familiar with the concept. Refer to Specifications for tips on selecting knowledgeable and experienced IPM professionals.

cost

There is disagreement over the cost of deploying IPM programs. One view is that IPM programs can reduce costs by eliminating the practice of spraying chemicals on a regular basis. But another is that those costs are then redirected at preventative measures, such as training employees, conducting regular inspections for pests, and investing in building and landscaping improvements.

specifications

Thorough specifications help eliminate the problem of low bids by firms that are unable or unwilling to effectively manage an IPM program. In one approach to this issue, the City of Santa Monica, California, requested vendors to demonstrate their qualifications by submitting the following information:

• Resumes of service technicians or relevant subcontractors who will be on site to service the account or supply technical support.
• A description of experience in the design or implementation of IPM programs (including specifics about the types of equipment and products used to control pests).
• A list of clients receiving IPM service from the company.
• A description of training provided to clients.
• A summary of all regulatory inspections and violations in the past five years and the company's response to any violations.

In addition, refer to Appendix G-2, which provides a sample contract for IPM services developed by the federal government.

vendors

Pest control operators can be located using the Yellow Pages, or by contacting the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) which can verify licensing of operators in the state. Currently, there are no certification or licensing requirements specific to IPM services. It is recommended that you apply criteria like those shown under Specifications to decide if a particular pest control operator will meet your expectations for IPM services.

For more information about pesticide applicator licensing, contact:

John Wagner
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
651/297-7122

resources

sources

"Integrated Pest Management for Buildings"
Cities Management, Inc.
November 1998

"Integrated Pest Management in Schools: IPM Training Manual"
Maryland Department of Agriculture
September 1995