today's technician december 2014

Quarterly Journal ofThe National Pest

Technician’s Association

Issue 84 - December 2014

Today’s Technician December 20143

this issue...

Welcome to issue 84 ofToday’s Technician

As you will read in this edition bothBarrie Sheard and myself, JD, arehanding over the publication of Today’s Technician toour present Chairman Iain Turner, who in turn ispassing the Chairmanship to Adam Hawley, the nowVice Chairman of our Association.

These moves will enable more innovative ideas to beput into practice. Iain would like to see both the newwebsite and this publication being more interactiveand has great plans in store for future issues.

Both Barrie and myself will of course assist Iain in thisnew venture and will continue to supply releventinformation, articles and help with proof reading andother areas where needed.

It has been very rewarding to see the progress inToday’s Technician and we have both endeavoured tobring both interesting and informative articles to TTfor over two decades, but now we feel the time isright for new blood to take the reins.

As always Iain and the team are always grateful forany articles, pictures, or any humorous incidents thatyou the membership can supply.

We thank you for your support and lookforward to future issues in its new format. Ed.

Today’s Technician is published quarterly. ALL RIGHTSRESERVED. The opinions expressed in this publication are notnecessarily those of the NPTA or of the Editor.Advertising is accepted at the discretion of the NPTAManagement Board and in no way implies endorsement ofthe goods or services by the NPTA or it’s officials. Thefunction of Today’s Technician is to improve communicationswithin the public health pest control industry to the benefitof aIl involved. The NPTA has taken all reasonable care in thepreparation of Today’s Technician, but does not accept anyliability for the consequences of any errors or omissions. Useof the NPTA logo by members merely indicates membershipof the Association and does not allude to endorsement of themember by the Association.

Editor : John Davison.Assistant Editor: J. Barrie SheardDesigned by Alan at ACW Design & PrintPrinting: ACW Design & Print, 0116 233 4266Cover picture - Ken Kay of Avocet Photography

ALWAYS READ THE LABEL– USE PESTICIDES SAFELY

3 Chairman’s Desk

6 Roythornes

7 PestTech 2014 - Bayer

8-9 PestTech Seminars

12 John Hands Over

13-15 Final Life At The Sharp End

16-17 PestTech Report 2014

18 Court Proceedings

19-21 NPTA Golf Day

23-25 Urban Deer Management

26-273 New Business Model

28-29 PestTech Demonstrations

30-31 Charity Run & PCN Dinner

Today’s Technician

editorial

Today’s TechnicianImportant Deadlines in 2015

Please note that the dates set for the next fourdeadlines for both advertisements, product news,editorials and their photographs, articles (both longand short), letters for last word, any hot gossip, frontpage photographs (portrait), job advertisements andanything else to do with "Today's Technician" are asfollows

March 2015 issue Friday 30th January 2015June 2015 issue Friday 1st May 2015September 2015 issue Friday 24th July 2015December 2015 issue Friday 30th Oct 2015NOTE: The September 2015 issue will come out 8weeks before PestTech 2015 so your businesscould easily include details of any new productsor services that will be on your Exhibition Stand.

HELP US TO HELP YOU GET YOUR “TT" ON TIME!


Chairman’s Desk

Some PeopleJust Don’t

‘Get It’, Do They?

This is excellent news forprofessional pest controllers, ashad the Stewardship Scheme notbeen accepted, SGARs would havebeen restricted to indoor use only,with disastrous implications for ratcontrol.

Unfortunately, this good news wasnot welcomed by some of theaudience, who chose instead tocomplain that ‘amateur use’products would still be availableand cast doubts about whetherother sectors, such as farmers andgamekeepers, would comply withthe requirements of the Scheme.

They just don’t ‘get it’, do they?We have no divine right to the soleuse of these products. Nor are wethe ‘innocent victims’ in this. Foryears – decades even – pestcontrollers have been selling theconcept of the ‘ring of protection’to their contract clients. Theremust now be hundreds ofthousands, possibly even millionsof tamper-resisting bait boxes

secured in place all around thecountry. And what do theycontain? In the vast majority ofcases I would guess they containSGARs. And what would be eatingthis bait? Some rats certainly, butwe all know that most bait getseaten by mice, especially the mostcommon mammal in the UK, theWood Mouse. This has to be oneof the key ways in which SGARresidues have been getting into thenatural food chains.

We are as guilty as all the otherusers of SGARs products ofpoisoning the food chains thathave caused such a rise in thelevels of SGAR residues in thosebirds and animals at the top ofthese chains. We can question thesignificance of these findings all wewant, but these residue levels willhave to come down if we are toretain the use of SGAR products.We can moan all we like aboutthese other groups, but we canonly control what we do.

It’s about time that we all‘got it’ and changed ourways.

Some suggestions about this areput forward for discussion later onin this edition under the article on‘The Industry Needs a NewBusiness Model’.

Another presentation thatgenerated a lot of discussion – andhot air – was the one on the newrequirements for how we deal withpest control waste. Once again,there was a feeling amongst somemembers of the audience of agreat injustice being forced onthem. Again, they just don’t ‘getit’.

As an industry, we’ve managed toget away with not handling ourwaste properly for nearly 10 yearsafter the legislation changed. It istime to face up to ourresponsibilities, like all othercommercial producers of wasteand to do things properly.

Finally, as I ‘hand over the baton’as the Chairman of the Associationto Adam Hawley, may I say what apleasure it has been and to wishAdam the best of luck as theindustry enters a new age.

*Second Generation AnticoagulantRodenticides

Iain Turner

At PestTech, the Pest Control News seminar tackled the keyissue of the forthcoming SGARs* Stewardship Scheme. Wewere fortunate to have present the two key officials fromthe HSE that are overseeing this Scheme. They confirmedthat the Scheme was to go ahead, following a consultationperiod that would last until the end of the year. This wouldmean that the Scheme would come into effect early in theNew Year. Products whose Approvals had been held upwould now be processed and that SGARs would be allowedto be used outdoors as well as in.


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4

NPTA Membership Benefits• Technical Advice• Services of our specialist Insurance Broker• Professional and Legal Advice from the Association’s Solicitors• Information on Training Courses throughout the UK• Specialist Training Courses throughout the UK• Regional Meetings• Access to Accredited Membership *• Use of the Association Logo• Guidance Documents• Help and Services of a Regional liaison Network• HS Direct (Online Health & Safety Paperwork)*• The Annual PestTech Exhibition• Promotion of Members to potential customers• Today’s Technician - our quarterly journal• CRB checks*• Debt Recovery Helpline• Promotional Advertising• Corporate Advertising within Yellow Pages• Website design services at preferential rates• Websites - www.npta.org.uk and www.pesttech.org.uk• Discounted advertising rates in Today’s Technician• Free job advertising within Today’s Technician• Discounted rates for exhibiting at PestTech• Promotion of the industry to Government• Personalised Fridge Magnets• Discounted rates for utility services such as Gas & Electric• Promotion of the industry through Media• Help and guidance when needed• Photographic Identity Cards*• Information on Working Documents• Peace of mind knowing you are part of a Professional Association

* extra charges apply


During the event, the team wereinundated with interest in the newproduct, with pest industryprofessionals able to see the innovativeproduct first hand and ask questionsdirect to the experts.

Racumin® Foam is a first generationrodenticide, developed in a unique,water-based foam formulation which isdelivered by an aerosol. With thewithdrawal of contact activity powderformulations, this new rodenticideoffers a much needed alternative. It’seasy to apply in areas such as accessholes, cavity walls and pipe-workswhere rodents are known to pass. Thefoam is then transferred to the pest’scoat as it brushes past and is ingestedstraight into the blood stream duringroutine grooming.

Bayer’s Alan Morris ran demonstrationsthroughout the event and received verypositive feedback. “We displayed someinert foam in a large, sealed,transparent tube, in order to show howit keeps its structure, even when thetube is vigorously shaken - the foamstays in this soft texture for up totwelve days. Our stand was buzzingwith interest in it all day.”

Visitors were also invited to vote in the‘House fit for a queen’ competition,which looked for the most impressiveand unusual wasp’s nest. The standfeatured picture entries of strangelylocated wasp’s nests, sent in by pestcontrollers from across the UK andvisitors had the chance to vote for themost impressive entry from the fivefinalists. The winner was a picture of awasp’s nest in a motorbike helmet,taken by David Nicoll, pest control

officer for Kier Harlow Ltd, in Harlow.This was an apt winner, having beenvoted for in the National MotorcycleMuseum.

David says he is over the moon to havereceived the winning prize of £200worth of Bayer products.

“The helmet is by far the strangestplace I’ve seen a wasp’s nest, it wasfound in the back of a customer’sshed. I treated the nest with Bayer’sFicam® D, and once eradicated, wasgiven the helmet as a thank you fromthe customer.”

The wasp’s nest competition was atalking point at the show, as was theappearance of a number of live insectson display in petri dishes, includingMadagascan cockroaches

(Gromphadorhina picea), orientalcockroaches (Blatta orientalis) and thecommon bed bug (Cimex lectularius),which attracted visitors and otherexhibitors onto the stand.

PestTech is viewed as the largest oneday pest control event in Europe, andwelcomed over 1,250 people throughthe doors at the National MotorcycleMuseum, on Junction 6 of M42motorway, in November.

Bayer engaged with current and newcustomers throughout the day. “For us,talking to our customers is of utmostimportance. We tried to make thestand as engaging as possible toattract people and it worked.Racumin® Foam generated markedinterest and it was a great event allround for us,” says Alan.

NPTA Scholar Xanthe Bigwood attended PestTech for the first time andreally enjoyed the experience. Progress report to follow in the nextissue of Today’s Technician.

Bayer showcasesRacumin® Foam for

the first time atPestTech

Taking an interactive approach,Bayer’s stand proved to be a successat this year’s PestTech event inBirmingham. The team unveiled thelatest innovative product, Racumin® Foam.

House fit for a queen competition winner DavidNicoll – wasp’s nest in motorbike helmet


Taking the plunge- employingsomeone for thefirst time

As a business grows, therecomes a time when youmay need to start to thinkabout taking on more staff.

Whether it’s part-time or full timethere are a number of key steps youmust take as you take on someonefor the first time. John Cameron ofRoythornes Solicitors talks aboutthe steps and how to make sureyou do them right.

How much do you pay them?Assuming you have decided whoyou want to employ, the first step isto decide what you are going topay them. You must at the veryleast pay them the NationalMinimum Wage (NMW). Thiscurrently depends on their age, andwhether they are an apprentice ornot.

The current NMW for those age 21or over is £6.50 per hour. Foremployees between 18 and 20 it is£5.13 per hour, whilst employeesunder 18 must be paid £3.79 perhour. Apprentices can be paidanything more than £2.73 per hour.

You will also need to be clear aboutwhether bonuses or overtime is tobe paid, and if so at what rate.

Can they work in the UK?It is important to check whetheryour proposed employee has thelegal right to work in the UK. Ifthey have a UK passport and are aBritish Citizen, then the answer willgenerally be yes, but of coursemany others also have the right towork in the UK, depending on theircircumstances.

This is a very important check tomake as you could be fined up to£20,000 per employee foremploying an illegal worker.Examples of illegal workers includestudents with expired visas, orstudents working more hours thanthey are entitled to, or peopleworking on a visitor’s visa. TheGovernment offer a helpline on0300 123 4699 to help you makethe right checks.

Do they need a DBS (PreviouslyCRB) check?The DBS (Disclosure and Barringservice) check is needed for peoplewho undertake certain jobs in thecare sector e.g. working withchildren or in healthcare. It isunlikely that a DBS check will beneeded for anyone in the PestControl sector, but if you have anyquestions the Governments DBShelpline can be contacts on 0870909 0811.

Employer’s liability insuranceOnce you employ someone youbecome liable for them as youremployee. For this reason you mustmake sure that you take outemployers’ liability insurance. Thiswill help you to pay compensationif the employee is injured whilst atwork and it must provide at least£5m of cover. You can be fined upto £2,500 a day for each day youdo not have Employers Liabilityinsurance and you must displayyour certificate at your place ofwork.

Terms and conditions ofemploymentYou must supply your employeewith written terms and conditions

of employment which set out therelationship between you asemployer and the employee. Thiswill contains items such as details ofduties, pay and holidays, hours ofwork, etc. You must also advise theemployee about your grievance anddisciplinary procedures, or statewhere those policies may be easilyaccessed by the employee. Youmust provide the statement if youare employing someone for overone month.

Notify HMRCYou must notify HM Revenue andCustoms that you are about toemploy someone and provide themwith the necessary details such astheir National Insurance Numberetc.. This can be done online andmust be done two weeks beforetheir first pay day.

This checklist may be daunting, butemploying someone for the firsttime is an indication of a successfulbusiness. The key to avoidingproblems in the future is, howeverto make sure you follow the correctprocedures, keep in mind thatemployees have certain employmentrights that they may rely on, andmake sure the paperwork is inplace.

If you have any questionswhatsoever, speak to your solicitor,or have a look on the Governmentweb site, which has much usefulguidance and advice.

John Cameron is a solicitor inRoythornes Solicitors employmentteam. He can be contacted on01775 842500 or by e-mail [email protected]

Pest Tech 2014 • Pest Tech 2014 •

First up was Oliver Madge,representing agricultural trainingbody LANTRA, who introduced usto the alternative training andCPD schemes that are going tobecome available in the nearfuture, that are being designed tomeet the needs of theforthcoming SGAR StewardshipScheme.

Whilst the RSPH Level IIAward/BASIS PROMPTcombination remains our sector’s‘preferred option’ for pestcontrollers, the LANTRAalternatives, whilst primarilyaimed at workers in theagricultural sector, may be moresuitable for some pest controllers,particularly those workingprimarily in rural areas.

All pest controllers wanting to useSGAR products in the future aregoing to have to get specified‘certificates of competence’ andjoin a recognised CPD Scheme andit was good to see that we willhave different schemes to choosebetween.

Next was Matt Womersley fromthe Environment Agency, whotook us through some of the keyrequirements regarding the new‘Code of Best Practice’ for thedisposal of pest control waste.

From the many questionsafterwards, it was clear that somein the audience had yet to readthe new CoBP, but Matt did hisbest then – and for some time

afterwards outside – to help theindustry through these changes.

Once more, all those who wish toremain in the pest control industryare going to have to learn how todeal with this issue, as it is notgoing to go away.

There then followed the ‘MainEvent’, which was an update onthe proposed SGAR StewardshipScheme, which was the subject ofthe PCN Workshop. We were mostfortunate to welcome the two keyCivil Servants involved with thedevelopment of the Scheme,Sarah Shore, Head of Biocides,Pesticides and the Environmentand her colleague in the ChemicalRegulation Directorate of the HSE,Nicola Gregg. They were able toconfirm that the StewardshipScheme was to go ahead, withthe Consultation Phase continuinguntil the end of this year, forimplementation early in the NewYear.


Clearly some in the audience feltaggrieved at the imposition of thisscheme and made their feelingsknown. Unfortunately, whatevermisgivings we may feel about thisscheme, it will be far better for usthan to have all SGARs restrictedto ‘indoor use only’ which was thealternative and which has alreadybeen implemented in some EUstates.

We then heard from NigelShelton, of Natural England, whotook us through the changes tothe Licences relating to thecontrol of certain bird species.We may be familiar with the

General and Personal Licences thathave been available previously, butthere are now Class Licences aswell, which fall between the othertwo types. These would coversuch situations as dealing withbirds in food premises, whichpreviously would have requiredspecific, individual licences.

Registering for the Class Licencecovering this activity is now muchsimpler and easier for pestcontroller.

Independent consultants RobFryatt and Chris Suter then tookus through the new European-wide CEN Standard for PestManagement, which offersinteresting opportunities for smallpest control companies as well asthe larger ones.

David Cross and Kevin Brown ofRAMPs reminded us that we onlyhad until November next year toget the qualifications nownecessary to purchase and usealuminium phosphide products forvertebrate control. They remindedus that these requirementsapplied to all users and theysuggested that this would openup opportunities for thoseprepared to get these

qualifications as many currentusers would not bother – and thepests would still need to becontrolled.

Peter Rigby of Trust K9 gave apresentation of bed bug snifferdogs and Jelen Deer Servicesintroduced their new trainingcourse for pest controllers onUrban Deer Management, whichhad been produced in conjunctionwith the NPTA.

Finally, Adam Hawley and SabraFearon, the NPTA’s most recentappointed Directors led adiscussion on what theAssociation is planning for thefuture, including the setting up ofan Irish branch to look after ourrapidly-growing membership inthat part of the world.

It is a time for change in manyareas of pest control, so it wasfitting for us to be reminded ofthe old Chinese proverb:“When the winds of changecome, some people build walls,whilst others build windmills”.


• Pest Tech 2014 • Pest Tech 2014 • Pest Tech 2014 • Pest Tech 2014 •

Pest Tech Seminars

The Seminar programme this yearproved to be very popular, with

standing room only in more than one.

8

� Mike Allison and TonyMoore of Jelen Deer Services

� Matt Womersley,Environment Agency

� Sabra Fearon and Adam Hawleyfrom the NPTA

� SGAR Stewardship Scheme,PCN Workshop Panel

Rupert Broome of KillgermChaired the PCN Workshop

�


Accredited Members

A big + for AccreditationHave you ever wanted that really big contract just down the road but could not cost effectively service the other

company premises some hundred or more miles away?

Well now it is possible as being an NPTA Accredited member entitles you to take on multi-national contracts and forthose premises that you find are just too far, all you have to do is come to an arrangement with another Accredited

member to take the work in their area at an agreed price- yes it’s that easy.

Being a fully Accredited member of the NPTA verifies by way of a site audit that your working practices, paperwork,insurance, vehicles, store and training all comply with current legislation and is recognised by the major supermarket

chains and their auditors.

Being an Accredited member of the National Pest Technicians Association at last gives you the same benefit as a largenational pest control company.

All you have to do to be Accredited is contact the NPTA office and our office staff will talk you through theapplication process, once you feel your company can comply with the requirements an auditor will visit your

premises, so why not phone today and join the growing number of Accredited members.

Contact NPTA House on 01773 717716 for further details

Discreet Pest Control, ManchesterCentral Pest Control, HerefordshireCMA Nemesis, DorsetCulm Environmental, DevonOakwood Groundcare & Pest Control, ShropshireAlba Environmental Services, ScotlandWakefield & District Housing, West YorkshireAcorn Environmental Services, CheshireBye Bye Pests, HampshireEnviropest Control Services, West Midlandsmacenviro, LeicestershireAshford Pest Control Ltd, KentOrkney Pest Control Services, ScotlandCountryside Pest Control Services, LincolnshireGuardian Pest Control, LincolnshireP & P Pest Control, WalesMark Jolly Pest Control, SuffolkComplete Pest Management, West MidlandsA.K. Pest Control, CornwallPestbusters (Midlands) Ltd, West MidlandsAdaptive Pest Control Ltd, ScotlandAbsolute Pest Control Ltd, Kent5 Star Pest Control, Isle of WightAbate Ltd, NorfolkEssex & Suffolk Pest Solutions Ltd, SuffolkBuckton Pest Management Ltd, East YorkshireApest Control Ltd, PembrokeshireLondon Environmental Pest Control Ltd, Essex

Graham Environmental Services Ltd, ScotlandMidland Environmental Services, NorthamptonshireA B Complete Ltd, GloucestershireSilvery Tweed Cereals, NorthumberlandHerefordshire Environmental Services Ltd,HerefordshireEuropest N.I., IrelandEradicate Pest Control Specialists, LincolnshireD. H. Pest Control Services, NottinghamshireHullternative Pest Control Service Ltd, West MidsFen Farm Partnership, LincolnshireDeadfast Pest Control Services, County DurhamCross Pest Control Services, HertfordshireTrust-K9 Ltd, LondonPestAid Environmental Services, NottinghamshireGreen Care UK Ltd, LancashirePestforce Torquay Ltd, DevonSolutions Pest Control, LeicestershireBaroque (SW) Ltd, Devon24/7 Pest Control, CheshireOrkin Ireland, IrelandDirect Pest Control, West YorkshirePied Piper Pest & Wildlife Management, West MidsAltek Midlands Environmental Services, West MidsJ.G. Environmental Ltd, BuckinghamshirePestforce Reading, BerkshirePresley Pest Control Ltd, Scotland

If your company is interested in becoming an Accredited Member of the NPTA, please contact our office on01773 717716 and join this elite group of members to benefit from this special category of membership.

10

Subscribing MembersThe NPTA is a non-profit making body and can only exist with the continued support of companies in the industry.

We therefore place on record our gratitude to the following ten subscribing members:

• Barrettine Environmental Health• BASF SE Pest Control Solutions • Bayer Environmental Science • Killgerm Chemicals Ltd

• Lodi UK Ltd• Rentokil• Rodent Service (East Anglia) Ltd

• Russell IPM Ltd• Suterra• SX Environmental Supplies Ltd

The scope of the Environmental Careunit primarily comprises the chemicalformulation and manufacturingcompanies, Denka International,based in Barneveld, Holland, andEdialux-Formulex, based in Bornem,Belgium with subsidiaries in theNetherlands, France and Switzerland.The transaction includes many leadingbrands such as Edialux, Sprigone,Lurectron, Luxan for the pest control,rural hygiene and consumer markets.Importantly the transaction includes135 employees across the variousacquired entities as well as certainmanufacturing and other real estatefacilities.

Commenting on the transaction, PeterMangion CEO of P+L Systems said:

“We are delighted that Group DChave entrusted us to bring theirEnvironmental Care business togetherwith our existing Pest Control

business in Western Europe. We arealready a very international business,with half our revenues derived fromEuropean markets. The bringingtogether of these businesses, andtheir market leading respective brandportfolios, creates a strong andfocussed business dedicated tosolving pest control problems in boththe professional and consumer pestcontrol markets.

We are particularly pleased to bebringing together the considerableexpertise and experience of ourrespective employees, a resourcewhich we value highly and which willbe brought to bear in deliveringfurther growth in Europe andbeyond”

Tom De Ceuster, Group DC Presidentand CEO added:

“This is truly a win-win deal for all

parties. In particular for all employeesand customers of the Edialux andDenka businesses. They all becomepart of a market leading group wherethe new shareholder is committed tocontinue to create value for all of itsvalued stakeholders.

With the divestment of ourenvironmental care activities, GroupDC will focus more than ever on itsplant health and soil fertility divisionas well as on its husbandry and feedpremix activities. We will not onlyintensify our R&D efforts to furtherenhance our product leadershipposition, but we will also look fornew geographical markets andinvestment opportunities. “

For further information pleasecontact: Group De Ceuster - Mrs. Peggy Paulus - T: +32 476 58 21 59 E: [email protected]

P+L Systems - Ms. Claire Larcombe - T: +44 1423 796664E: [email protected]

SINT-KATELIJNE-WAVER, BELGIUMand KNARESBOROUGH, UK

In the ‘good old days’, mice were mice androdenticide labels said things like ‘for thecontrol of rats and mice’. Simple andstraightforward. Unfortunately, things aregetting a bit more complicated.

Labels now refer to the species they are ‘Approved for Use’for. As far as rats are concerned, there’s no problem. Wehave to deal with only one rat in this country, so whether itis a ‘rat’ or Rattus norvegicus, is irrelevant. With mice it’sdifferent, because we have two that we commonly dealwith – and only one of these features on the newerlabels.

Labels now refer to ‘the House Mouse, Mus musculus’,with only older labels referring to ‘mice’. So what do wedo when we know we are dealing with the other mousethat we frequently find indoors, the Wood Mouse,Apodemus sylvaticus?

Well, technically speaking, you would be breaking the Lawif you used a product which specifies the House Mouseand you knowingly used it against a Wood Mouseinfestation.

That is a little difficult to manage, as when faced withnothing more than some droppings, gnawing damage anda complaint of ‘noises in the walls/ceiling’ it is pretty muchimpossible to identify the culprit down to species. Youwould probably need to catch one in a trap to make sure.

This may seem like being a bit picky, after all, who is likelyto find out if you killed a few Wood Mice which werecausing a problem in someone’s house with a product thatonly specified use against House Mice? Probably no-oneand even if they did, would it be ‘in the Public Interest’ toprosecute you? Probably not.

However, it does raise an important issue with regard totreating outdoors for mice. Which species do you usuallyfind outside?

Given these new, specific,labels and all the kerfuffleabout using rodenticidesoutside, perhaps it is timeto look twice at claimingto control ‘rats and mice’outdoors.

OF MICE AND MEN


Group De Ceuster of Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium ispleased to announce the sale of their Environmental Caredivision to P+L Systems (Holding) UK of Knaresborough,UK, for an undisclosed sum.

11


For some reason - possibly the humming of this high voltage cable, the fox in thepicture decided to take a bite and not only electrocuted himself but managed to put

the lights out on the main runway at a busy midlands airport.


I think he saw the light! Life at the Sharp Enda final out and about with Bob Newey

I’ve been rambling onin Today’s Technicianabout my day to dayexperiences as a pesttechnician since 2005which was shortly after,at the late age of 50, Ifirst began the life of apestie after having beenin road haulage all myworking life.

I’ve recalled the trials andtribulations I encountered startingout in the industry, especiallybeginning from scratch with noprevious experience. I’ve talkedabout some amusing jobs, someunusual jobs, had a rant to getsomething off my chest, or sharedmy thoughts and experiences onother pest related matters.

But having recently turned 60, I’vedecided to retire. I’ve mentionedbefore that last year we put thehouse up for rent and moved ontoa canal narrowboat to live and Inow want more time for me andthe missus to go off and explore the2,500 miles of canals and rivers inEngland and Wales.

It’s going to be tight financially, butI have a small pension from all myyears working for P&O shipping aswell as the income from renting outthe house, so if we live frugally andI cut down on the fags then weshould be okay. I can also do someHGV driving shifts in the winter ifneed be because we shall bemoored up not far from adistribution centre betweenNovember and March.

One of the problems with this pestindustry is that the busiest time isthe summer when I want to be outon the boat enjoying the niceweather. I have thought aboutperhaps a way of just doing pestcontrol in the winter months but itjust wouldn’t be practical or viable,especially the type of pest work Ido, so I’m afraid it’s going to haveto be a clean break.

I am going to miss it, although Imust confess that with the changesthat are coming in concerningSGARs and the new waste disposalstipulations I’m kind of glad that Iwon’t have those hassles.

So how have I found the last 10years? Well my biggest regret is thatI didn’t discover this wonderfulbusiness a lot earlier in my life. Itwas mighty tough in those earlydays and much more so than I’dexpected. It took longer for me tobe able to earn a living purely fromthe pest work, meaning that I hadto do Friday and Sunday night shiftstruck driving for longer than Iwanted to.

There was a heck of a lot to learn interms of gaining my qualifications

and this was more difficult at 50than had I been younger. There wasmy inexperience in actually doingthe job, but being able to ‘shadow’some NPTA members out on theirrounds helped immensely. Then

once I was on my own I gainedexperience from actually doing thejob, making a few mistakes hereand there but learning from them.

If there is one single piece of adviceabove anything else that I’ve learntfrom others and from my ownexperiences, it is how crucial theinitial survey is. Whether it is a ‘oneoff’ job or a quote for a contract,the importance of spending a lot oftime and effort sussing out asituation beforehand will not onlyensure a more thorough job butalso save time and hassle later bynot missing some vital information.

having recently turned60, I’ve decided to retire.

if we live frugally and Icut down on the fags

then we should be okay.

Well my biggest regretis that I didn't discoverthis wonderful businessa lot earlier in my life.

There was myinexperience in actuallydoing the job, but being

able to 'shadow' someNPTA members out on

their rounds helped

J.D. (John Davison) the Associations CEO (Chief ExecutiveOfficer) and Editor of Today’s Technician for almost twodecades, has decided to pass the reins of the AssociationJournal to our Chairman, Iain Turner.

John, along with Assistant Editor, Barrie Sheard, have decided new moreinnovative ideas are needed to bring TT forward, enabling the use of newtechnology and integration with the NPTA Website.

Both John and Barrie have been involved with Today’s Technician since the first A4 photocopiedpublication back in 1993. They will both still assist and support Iain in his new role and continue tosupply any relevant information for future issues.

J.D. passes the reins

‘bad debts’ but thankfully nothingmajor. I remember being so pleasedwhen I won a contract at a lapdancing club but this didn’t lastlong when they turned out to bereally bad payers. Even my offer tosettle the debt with ‘payment inkind’ didn’t work!

Yes it has certainly been an eventfuland by and large an enjoyablecareer but despite having found thejob fulfilling and rewarding, thereare some aspects of it that Idefinitely won’t miss, such ascrawling around in lofts precariouslystraddling joists hidden undermountains of insulation, a situationmade far worse when suited andbooted for dealing with angrywasps coming at me from alldirections. I won’t miss the movingaround of heavy furniture whendoing household spraying, orgetting soaked to the skin infreezing rain when doing outsidejobs.

I will really miss the enjoyment ofdealing with such a variety of folk,whether it be the relationships I’vebuilt up with my contract customersor most of the householders who

have been really grateful when I’vesorted out their pest problems. I saythe majority because naturally therehave been a few awkward onessuch as those who try to find anexcuse not to pay, or try to knockthe price down. Then there arethose who think they know morethan you because they have ‘read iton the internet so it must be true’.

I plan to carry on my involvementwith the NPTA. It’s all on avoluntary basis as is the case withall of the management boardmembers, so I will give as much astime permits and hopefully a bitmore than I’ve been able to givewhilst trying to run a business aswell.

The Association really needs peoplewho are willing to give up a little oftheir time to help and if any of youwould like to find out more of whatit’s about please give Julie at theoffice a call. You don’t even have tolive near to the office inNottingham.

Finally before I go, thank you somuch to those of you who havetaken the time to read myramblings over the years and I hopeyou’ve enjoyed them. I’vesometimes found it difficult to thinkof things to talk about and this hasinevitably meant an element ofrepetition. There have been timeswhen I’ve wanted to stop, but theeditor has encouraged/persuadedme to carry on. But moreimportantly, it has been thefeedback from some of you pestiesthat has kept me going. It’s beenreally great and meant so much tome that so many of you over theyears have come up to me atPestTech and said how much youenjoy my column.

Best wishes to you all for the futureand hopefully I’ll see some of you atPestTech in the future.

For the final time

Bob NeweyAKA

NeilBarnett

Having that drummed into mecertainly paid dividends.

I’ve loved being out and aboutrather than stuck in an office all daylike I had been for 30 yearspreviously, although I must confess Isometimes hankered for a warmcosy office when kneeling in amuddy rain swept field setting moletraps.I’ve so enjoyed the variety that this

job brings. Yes there is the routinestuff, but coming across varyingand sometimes challengingsituations makes for someinteresting and stimulating times aswell.

It’s certainly been a varied andoften eventful 10 years. There havebeen some hairy moments such asthe time my ladders slid off theedge of a garage roof leaving mestranded 15 feet up clinging onto aslippery sloping tiled roof until Icould attract the attention of apasser by. The time a ceiling belowme collapsed as I crawled around aloft, which was not my fault Ihasten to add, and I even receivedan extra payment from thecustomer. Then there was the chapwho stripped naked in front of me,and the time I got stuck inside aproperty when the security gatesclosed and locked up on me.

Amongst the more interesting orunusual jobs I came across, were abiscuit beetles infestation which Ieventually found the source to beinside a teddy bear in a drawer, thebat that was hanging on to apicture rail having mistakenlyentered the bedroom through anopen window instead of into theroof-space above, the post officewhich had an infestation ofpharoah ants and the alarmingthought of how many of these antsmight have been inadvertentlydispatched to many parts of thecountry (or world) during the 6months they’d had the infestationbefore calling me in.There was the guy who, rather than

paying to have his wasps removed,rigged up a vacuum cleaner hose bythe nest entrance, but finallyadmitted defeat when after weeksand weeks of doing this the nestwas still very active.

Some of you may remember mypassion for bumblebees and thelengths I’d go to in order to avoidkilling them. I must have re-locatedover 100 nests over the years andthe most bizarre one was where thepresence of a nest was holding upthe demolition of a concrete gardenpath. Rather than pump Ficamdown into the crack in the concreteI borrowed the builder’s pneumaticdrill and proceeded to break up andremove the section of the path sothat I could dig out the nest and re-locate it.

Probably the most disturbing call Iwent to was at a care home to dealwith ants in a resident’s room, andwhen I arrived she had just passedaway but the owners, fearful ofhaving to pay for a wasted call outstill wanted me to go ahead whichof course I didn’t.

Another memorable job was toremove a couple of squirrels from agarden. I’d warned the householderthat after catching them, moresquirrels would inevitably move in,but even I was surprised when Iended up catching 31 during thefollowing 5 weeks.

Like most of you, I have had a few

15

I borrowed the builder'spneumatic drill and

proceeded to break upand remove the section

of the path so that Icould dig out the nest

and re- locate it.

it has been thefeedback from some of

you pesties that haskept me going.

It's certainly been avaried and often

eventful 10 years.

Then there are thosewho think they know

more than you becausethey have 'read it on the

internet so it must betrue'.

The Association reallyneeds people who are

willing to give up alittle of their time

to help

There was the guy who,rather than paying to

have his waspsremoved, rigged up a

vacuum cleaner hose bythe nest entrance,

If there is one singlepiece of advice aboveanything else that I'velearnt from others and

from my own experiencesit is how crucial the

initial survey is.

I won a contract at a lapdancing club but thisdidn't last long whenthey turned out to be

really bad payers.

thank you so much tothose of you who have

taken the time toread my ramblings over

the years

Today’s Technician December 2014 Today’s Technician December 201414


Considered to be the premierevent of the Pest ControlCalendar, PestTech certainlydidn’t disappoint the 1250+delegates that flooded throughthe doors. With an array ofinteresting talks taking placethroughout the day as well asthe outdoor demonstration, itwas once again a day not to bemissed.It was standing room only for the WasteGuidance talk and Matt Womersley of theEnvironment Agency explained todelegates the requirements and guidelinesthey should now be following and tried tobreak down the procedure into easy tofollow steps. Not an easy subject to tackleand I am sure there are still a lot oftechnicians who remain confused aboutthe procedure. Mr. Womersley even had tocontinue the question and answer sessionoutside to some delegates as he had somany questions to answer!

The PCN Workshop on SGAR StewardshipScheme was also standing room only andalong with a panel consisting of Iain Turnerfrom the NPTA, Rupert Broome fromKillgerm, David Oldbury from NPAP andSimon Forrester from the BPCA, the tworepresentatives from the HSE, Sarah Shoreand Nicola Gregg gave a full and detailedpresentation and confirmed that theScheme would be going ahead, once thepublic consultation process had beenconcluded.

Significant changes lie ahead forprofessional users and the NPTA will beproviding members with updates on theSGAR Stewardship Scheme when itbecomes available so keep your eye on the

NPTA website, Today’s Technician and youremails.

Other topics for discussion throughout theday included a new Lantra training courseand CPD Scheme, the latest NPTA / JelenDeer course on Urban Deer Managementand what the future holds for the NPTA.

The exhibition itself well and truly deliveredwith new products being demonstrated,new companies parading their wares andthe more established companies enjoyinghaving the opportunity to meet up withcustomers.

Alongside the NPTA, members could askthe Association Solicitors, Roythornes, fortheir advice and speak to Bill Fountainabout any insurance issues that they maybe experiencing.

Delegates who were interested could visitthe Museum free of charge and there werea few who couldn’t resist viewing all thoseold motorcycles and extending their visitwith a bit of nostalgia.

If you missed out on PestTech 2014 there isan opportunity to view a short film fromthe event at http://npta.org.uk/pesttech.

Next year will see another fantastic eventso a date for your diary – 4th November2015 and remember, if you have anypressing topics that you would like to seecovered in the seminar timetable, pleaseget in touch.

Today’s Technician December 2014 Today’s Technician December 201416 17

PestTech 2014 – a resounding success for the NPTA

APOLOGIES FROMTHE NPTAThe NPTA would like to apologise forthe problems some of you may haveexperienced when visiting PestTech thisyear.

Due to circumstances beyond ourcontrol, the National MotorcycleMuseum had booked two largeconferences to take place on the sameday as PestTech, which resulted in thecar park being up to capacity bylunchtime on 5th November.

As soon as the NPTA was made awareof the problems, immediate action wastaken to resolve the issue, the airgunrange was hastily relocated and theoverflow car park was opened up.

Unfortunately, we have been informedthat for a short period of time the carpark attendants were refusing entry todelegates and instructing them to parkat the NEC, resulting in a car parkcharge. If anybody was forced into thisposition and can produce their carparking ticket, showing the fee charged,to the NPTA, a voucher will be issuedfor a free drink at PestTech 2015.

We have had assurances from theMotorcycle Museum that this problemwill not occur again so once again, oursincerest apologise to all those whowere affected.


19Today’s Technician December 2014 Today’s Technician December 201418

AnnualGolf Day 2014

This year we took to theundulating slopes of theGreetham Valley Golf Club inRutland, and as you can seefrom the many photographs,a great day was had by all.

The 2014 NPTA Annual GolfDay, held on 1st October,was a gloriously sunny, warmday and saw teams takingpart from all over the UK andfrom every sector of theIndustry.

It didn’t matter whether youwere playing with or againstyour competitors, all was fairin this competition andnobody was safe from allthat testosterone (and balls)flying around!

This year saw teams of 4players taking part and thecompetitive spirit was rife,although as you can see,banter and laughter weremost definitely the order ofthe day creating a fantasticatmosphere.

Don’t forget, if you missed out this year you can always show your supportand competitive spirit by signing up for the NPTA Annual Golf Day 2015.

CourtProceedings

Case One – Food poisoningoutbreak associated with aSouth Devon PubConditions found at the Globe Inn in Frogmore,Kingsbridge were so poor that it could have madepeople unwell.

As a result of allegations received of a food poisoningincident at a wedding reception held at the Globe Inn inFrogmore an immediate hygiene inspection revealed aseries of findings at the local Torquay magistrate’scourt. The landlords of the public house, named Johnand Lynda Horsley had reported to South Hams DC thata suspected food poisoning incident had occurred theday before at a wedding reception.

The inspection revealed that samples of food and clothsused in the kitchen indicated conditions to cause aserious concern. The landlords pleaded guilty to threeoffences;1. Failing to keep the premises clean;2. Placing unsafe food onto the retail market;3. Failing to have a food hygiene management system

in place.Fines of £4,000 were made with costs of £1,798. As aresult of the inspection deep cleansing was undertaken,food areas redesigned, staff retrained and a food safetymanagement system put in place. The spokesperson forSouth Hams DC stated “Our approach to enforcing foodlaw is to provide advice and guidance in the firstinstance. In this case, the proprietors were aware oftheir obligations and had failed to meet them. We donot take prosecutions lightly”.

Case Two – 99p Store soldmice eaten foodBusiness premises in the High Street, Sittingbourne, inKent known as ”99p Stores Limited” were found guiltyof food safety offences as a result of a routine hygieneinspection carried out by an Environmental HealthOfficer for Swale Borough Council.

Evidence was presented to the magistrates of severaloffences:1. Extensive mouse activity;2. Food unprotected from contamination;

3. Dirty floors and untidy storage of food;4. Contaminated food, namely a mouse-gnawed

multipack chocolate bar exposed for sale andobviously unsafe.

Photographic evidence was produced that showed thegnawed chocolate bars.

Despite pleading guilty the Company were fined themaximum of £5,000 per offence, with a third off for anearly guilty plea, a surcharge of £120 and costs of£4,168. Making a total of £14,288.

The chair of the magistrates commented “When I go toa food store which is open to the public I expect foodto be sold of an acceptable standard for humanconsumption. In this case it was found that a productsold was not up to that standard and there wereunacceptable lapses in management.”

Case Three – Rats and Insectscause two business closuresin EalingEaling London Borough Council recently had to closetwo food premises. The first business known as theKavah Café at 73 New Broadway, Ealing and the secondat the Brothers Kebab and Fish Bar at 178 South EalingRoad.

The Kavah Café operated by Trishan (London) Limitedwas immediately closed with an emergency prohibitionnotice and ordered to pay £583 towards the Council’scosts. The findings were the result of first a customercomplaint to Ealing LBC that a cockroach had been seenscuttling across the café floor and a member of the staffhad crushed same, this complaint resulted in the foodteam uncovering live cockroaches in a glass, a toasterand cupboards plus mouse faeces on work surfaces incupboards. In addition, there was also no hot water onthe premises for washing hands.

The second premises were visited as a result of qcomplaint from the police. Here was found ratdroppings in food preparation areas, dirty conditionsthroughout the premises and a large rodent hole in theceiling. The business was ordered to pay £639 towardsthe Council’s costs and forced to close until work wascompleted.

References: We wish to acknowledge our appreciation to the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) for their courtesy inallowing us to reprint articles from both their October and November 2014 EHN Journal.

�

21Today’s Technician December 2014Today’s Technician December 201420

Players could hire a golf buggy if required or could chose to walk thechallenging course – the clue is in the Golf Club Name! Those whowalked certainly looked in need of liquid refreshment when they hadfinished but commented on the lovely course, some having seenSquirrels, Rabbits, two rats (sightings at the 18th hole) and even aMuntjac.

Players were ‘encouraged’ to give generously to take part in a rafflein aid of the Water for Kids charity with the prize being an electricgolf trolley.

With teams setting off at regular intervals it was a while before thelast team sauntered into the ‘refreshment area’ (bar to you and me).After all had refreshed themselves it was off to the restaurant for atasty meal, the presentation of the trophies and the raffle prize draw.

The chosen charity this year was Water for Kids and Barbara Lucasfrom the charity explained why it was set up and gave an update ontheir work.

Photography was courtesy of Julie Gillies and her driver for the daywas Donna Alvey, how they survived was a mystery to all those whowitnessed the wacky races style of driving but apart from one scarymoment when the golf trolley tilted precariously on an incline, theysurvived to capture the day to a tee – :-)

The NPTA wishes tothank all those whotook part, thecompanies whosponsored the day andGreetham Valley GolfClub for their superbhospitality.

Surprisinglymost of theplayers had

turned up withdirty balls and

had to makefull use of the

cleaningapparatus!!

And last but ....scrap that,definitely last... BarryPhilips of SX gets thebooby prize.

Nearest the pin – SteveOwen, National BirdControl.

Barbara Lucas, Water forKids Charity

Longest drive went to –Dave Wood, Synergy

Overall winner – KenSiddall, Haart EstateAgents

Paul Wood, Killgerm,winner of the raffletaking ownership of theelectric golf trolley

� Rats at the 18th

Don’t leave the golfbuggy unattended –they’ll get theirrevenge...

Today’s Technician December 2014 Today’s Technician December 201422 23

Pest ControlService

Technician Hertfordshire andsurrounding areas

Melford Pest Control are a professional, wellestablished family run pest control companybased in North Herts.

We currently have a vacancy for a fullytrained Pest Control technician to join ourfriendly hard working team. The role willinclude commercial and domestic pestcontrol, fly killer servicing and pestproofing. The ideal candidate should:

Ideally be qualified to BPCA / RSPH level 2 inpest management or equivalent.

Have a full, clean UK drivers licence.

Be self-motivated, well organised,hardworking, reliable, flexible andtrustworthy.

Have common sense and a positive attitude.

Have good communication skills and beconfident dealing with customers at alllevels.

A company vehicle and mobile phone,clothing, PPE and equipment will beprovided. Salary is negotiable depending onexperience plus overtime and commission.

Please email your CV and a coveringletter to [email protected] send to Tina Marsh, Melford PestControl, Melford House, Stevenage Road,Little Wymondley, Herts SG4 7JA, or call01438 722393.

Continuity is the keynote of thisstunningly designed, British constructedcomprehensive range of matching, multi-sized fly killers fresh on the market fromBower.This universal Nano range offers both glue board and hightension grid machines in a variety of sizes and priceranges within the same captivating design pattern.

This means that the universal Nano machines can be usedin areas where different machine types are required whilststill maintaining a flowing aesthetic appearance. TheNano's modern rounded design and intricately designedfront guard all enhance that distinctive, smart andpleasant look.

Ten new matching Nano fly killers are to be introducedfrom the low cost machine for the smaller establishmentto the high performance version for substantial areas –each one complimenting the next. Available in steel orstainless steel, the Nanos can be suspended or wallmounted. Machines are

identical in height but different in width depending ontheir capacity.

Small budget machines incorporate a 20 watt energysaving lamp. With the exception of the budget ‘G20’model (which can be supplied with a standard lamp as anoption) all of the Nano range comes fitted with shatterresistant lamps.

With the cleverly designed ‘lift and lock’ front guard andthe spring loaded, removable killing grid, all Nanos offertools free servicing. Tube changing is quick and easy andall models come with a five year warranty (excludinglamps, starters and glue boards where applicable).As you’d expect, all replacement tubes and glue boardsare available from Bower Products.A great deal of interest was shown at PestTech.

To find out more, call Boweron 0208 903 0983.Email [email protected] or web: www.bower.co.uk

Nano! The DynamicUniversal Range of FLY KILLERS

Urban Deer Management Training -NPTA Leading The Way

The 27th November sawthe UK’s first everformally recognisedtraining course in UrbanDeer Management runfor 9 delegates at theNational Pest TechniciansAssociation (NPTA)Headquarters inNottingham.The two-tier course was written anddeveloped jointly by Jelen Deer Services- the UK’s leading Deer ManagementProfessionals - and the NPTA, nowrecognised as the industry’s foremostprofessional body representing theinterests of Wildlife ManagementProfessionals.

�

He added; “It is worrying to methat amongst the recreationaldeer-stalking community, thereappears to be a preferential shifttowards the use of lethal controlmethods (shooting with high-powered rifles) and a readiness toembark on this type of controlbefore considering non-lethaloptions first.

There is virtually no publicappetite for the slaughter ofhealthy deer close to humanhabitation. For this reason I feelthat we should consider all otheroptions first before resorting tothe use of firearms in urban areas.

However, in some cases there willbe occasions where the use offirearms is inevitable as the onlyfirst-choice effective means ofdealing with urban deer. It is inthese circumstances that I feelonly qualified professional deermanagers and WildlifeManagement Technicians shouldbe engaged to carry out thiswork.

As most recreational deer stalkersare sport orientated, then I worryabout their motives for wishing tocarry out this work, and I worryeven more about the potential forserious shooting accidents, theimpact that this may have onpublic perception, and theimplications for the wider deermanagement community. It is myview that credible and measurableprofessional training in themanagement of urban deer is key

to ensuring public safety andanimal welfare are notcompromised.”

It is clear that the Urban Deer areimpacting human lives now morethan ever before, and theelevating annual costs of thisshould not be underestimated.

Deer & Vehicle Collisions (DVC’s)are one such area where costs tothe taxpayer are escalating intothe millions of pounds a year.Where human fatalities occur, thecurrent estimated cost to thepublic sector is in the region of£2,000,000 per casualty, inaddition to the high personal costto victims’ families.

Jelen Deer Services and the NPTAare committed to raising publicawareness to the increasingproblems of Urban Deer, and topromote thoughtful,compassionate and professional

management. The alliance intendsto focus heavily on findingsolutions to dealing with thesource of the problem.

Both organisations believe thatthe pro-active response isultimately preferable to thereactive approach that currentlyappears to be the norm.

As such, both the NPTA and Jelenare now operating in aconsultative role, as well asproviding specialist client-basedsolutions to Police, Local Authorityand Private Land Owners.

The Jelen/NPTA training course inUrban Deer Management sets theUK benchmark, and is aimed atraising standards as well asminimising risk to the Britishpublic, to property and not leastto the welfare of wild deer in theUrban Environment.

25

The new course, delivered by MikeAllison & Tony Moore of JelenDeer Services projected a balancedfusion of professional skills ofboth organisations which gavedelegates an opportunity to notonly refresh, but also to build ontheir current knowledge of thisimportant but sensitive issue.

Attended by several Police WildlifeLiaison Officers as well as leadingWildlife Control Technicians &NPTA members, the courseprovided a unique blend ofspecialist skills, knowledge andfield experience which was readilyshared between all delegates.

The initial feedback was positive,and without exception delegatesfelt that the course contentexceeded their expectations at alllevels. Although the course movesquickly, at no point did delegatesfeel overwhelmed as informationwas clearly laid out, explainedsuccinctly and supported with aprofessionally produced trainingmanual.

The course provided Policedelegates particularly with agreater understanding of thecomplexities of managing deer inthe urban landscape, and toidentify areas in their approach toUrban Deer challenges thatrequired updating andimprovement.

Equally the NPTA Professionalmembers gained a sound base forfurther development of theirservice range, especially in refiningskills and techniques appropriateto their businesses in areas whereUrban Deer impacts are a growingproblem.

Particularly useful to all delegateswas the detailed working protocoldeveloped by Jelen to ensure thata clear strategic approach can beimplemented prior to and duringdelivery of Urban DeerManagement services to clients.

Managing the potential hazardsand risks associated with UrbanDeer Control is crucial in thehighly sensitive environment inwhich both Wildlife Technicians,Police and Local Authority staffmay work.

This course involves instruction onidentifying occupational risks andprovides vital information on howthey may be controlled.

Wildlife Management Technicians,Police Wildlife Liaison Officers andLocal Authority Managerial Staffrequired to meet the increasingchallenges surrounding UrbanDeer issues can be assured thatthis unique opportunity willdeliver specialist training relevantto their needs.

Mike Allison, the principal lectureron the course, and one of theUK’s leading Deer Managementspecialists, has serious concernsabout the growing Urban Deerproblem and warns of thedangers of allowingun-qualifiedoperators andpurelyrecreational deerstalkers to carryout the cullingof deerinurbanareas.

“ The interface between ruralareas and many of our towns andcities has created a unique hybridlandscape where wild deer –normally having an inherent fearof humans – have not onlyadapted to living close to humans,but even share the exact sameareas as humans in many cases.

Parkland, Playing field and rightdown to private gardens areregularly frequented by wild deer,and although public perception ofwild deer in the urban landscapeis generally positive, there are anumber of potential risks thatmust be addressed, and that thepublic need to be aware of. Themain ones being the increase indeer-related vehicle collisions, thegrowing problem of Lyme Disease

transmission from deerticks and the

increasing potentialfor deer attacks onhumans –especially duringthe rut (mating

season).”


“A most informative course, giving Police Wildlife Crimeofficers an unique opportunity to share training

opportunities with partners in the industry. Urban deerissues are becoming an increasing issue for metropolitan

police forces, for us, it is essential to work on theseissues with our technician partners’ who can deal with

issues efficiently and reliably”.

“Fantastic opportunity to learn and meet professionaltechnicians, to see how they work and to understand

some of the issues you all face, when faced with an urbanDeer call out. The course was very informative and wellput together. Thank you for the opportunity to attend”

“I wish to thank the NPTA for the day. It was a wellorganised event and I certainly came out with more

knowledge about the subject than when I went in and Iam sure that goes for the all officers present”.

Police Forces and Local Authorities nationwide have requested a listof trained professionals from the NPTA who can be called upon todeal with an Urban Deer situation. It is our intention that a list willbe provided of those members who have passed both the NPTA /

Jelen Urban Wildlife Deer Management course and the NPTA / JelenHumane Dispatch & Shot Placement, including tests on a range. This

is an opportunity for NPTA members to gain valuable recognitionand work within this specialised area.


Future Course Dates: Wednesday, 25th February, 2015Wednesday, 29th April, 2015

REVIEWS OF THE COURSE

�

27Today’s Technician December 2014Today’s Technician December 201426

Many pest controllers willknow only one business modelwhen it comes to offering arodent control contract to acommercial client:

Install tamper-resisting bait boxesaround the site; fill them with toxicbait and then check them every 6 –8 weeks, replacing any bait that hasbeen taken.

That’s probably what they were taught to dowhen they started and it has become acceptedpractice throughout the industry (even though it iscontrary to product label instructions). Clients likethe ‘24/7, 365 day protection’ allegedly offered bythis approach. Auditors like this model becausethey can draw up specifications around it, whichthey can tick off on their visits. Pest controlsalesmen like this model because they can sell baitbox installation at nice prices. Pest control businessowners and managers like this model because theycan offer their clients a tangible service and itgives them a steady contract income.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t offer much protectionagainst rodents, but does allow significant‘leakage’ of persistent rodenticides into theenvironment via the small, non-target rodents thatare the main eaters of the bait that is leftaccessible to them.

This ‘pest prevention’ model that we have come torely on for our businesses is one of the principalcauses of Second Generation AnticoagulantRodenticide (SGAR) residues increasingly found innon-target animals, such as birds of prey. Nevermind what farmers, gamekeepers and the generalpublic apparently do, we have got to sortourselves out if we are to stand any chance ofretaining these essential chemicals.

So what new approach should we beadopting?Toxic baits should not be used to ‘monitor’whether there are rodents present or not,especially outside buildings. Existing bait stations

can be left in place, but either left empty orcontaining non-toxic baits. If rats do come ontothe site, these stations are already in place toaccept toxic baits for the short period of time theymay need to be employed.

Your technicians can still carry out routineinspections, but instead of simply replacingdamaged or missing toxic baits, they can spendmore time looking for and reporting on issues thatcould encourage rodents onto the site. Theyshould focus more on advising their clients whatthey need to be doing and on proofing needed toreduce the risk of rodent entry into buildings.If rodents do become a problem, you will need tostart an in-depth control programme, using allappropriate control measures, which might involvegassing, trapping, glue boards or first generationanticoagulants – and then, if none of theforegoing are suitable – using SGARs in a short,sharp treatment, removing them immediately oncecontrol is achieved. This might involve severalvisits over a relatively short period of time.

Those old-timers who were in the business beforeSGARs and tamper-resisting bait stations becamethe norm may recognise the above approach ashow the industry used to do things! We need tobe going back to rodent control basics, but withmodern day products to help us.

You can still offer clients ‘8 visits a year’monitoring contracts, with all the ‘duty of care’paperwork they now expect. It is just that now wewill have to consider any infestation controltreatments as separate jobs.

Whether you include these extravisits as part of the contract, as is

often the case now, or aschargeable additional visits, will

depend on individual circumstances.Most sites won’t get infested every year,

so you could include any treatments in thecontract. With those sites where the client

doesn’t co-operate with pest preventionmeasures, or where rodent infestations are a

regular occurrence, it may be prudent to chargeseparately for every additional visit.

Don’t Lose Your NerveAfter so long relying on SGARs to do

the work for us, it is a little unnervingreplacing them with non-toxic baits, but it can

be done successfully – you just need to keep yournerve.

These monitoring baits do get eaten by rodents –there are a lot of non-target rodents out there –but you need to resist the urge to immediatelyreplace them with toxic baits. Amazing though itmay seem to some, it is perfectly possible for non-target rodents to exist outside a building and notcome inside.

Of course, it isn’t always possible to determinewhat rodent ate the bait, as they don’t alwaysleave their droppings behind, so the technician willhave to make a professional judgement. What isthe history of the site? Is it regularly invaded byrats, or are they very occasional visitors? Howserious would a rat infestation be to the client? Forsome it would be absolutely critical for immediateaction to be taken, but for most it would be just aninconvenience which would need to be sorted outin due course. Remember that if you decide that itwas a rat, you will have to start a controltreatment, involving several visits over the next fewweeks. Is that really necessary?

In most situations, I would suggest that the mostlikely culprit would be the much more commonsmall rodents that live in the vegetation thatsurrounds most of our buildings. Take a chanceand stick to non-toxic baits until you know for surethat you have rats – unless that would bedisastrous for your client. In which case, perhaps

you should be using traps as your monitors.

There is no question that it is difficult to shake offthe habits of a lifetime, but it is possible to do so,still provide an effective service for your clients andnot get overrun with rats.

Some sites, with a long history of rat invasionsfrom neighbouring sites do exist, of course. If youlook after such sites, rather than dutifully replacingtoxic baits week after week, perhaps you shouldinvestigate the neighbouring property. There mightbe new business for you, or if they refuse to co-operate, it may be time to contact your localEnvironmental Health Department, as the LocalAuthority has a legal obligation to keep theirdistricts free of rats and mice.

Should You Tell Your Clients ThatYou’ve Switched?You know your clients and you are the expert onsite. You decide what you put in your bait stations,not them. Most, of course, will not be interested inexactly how you go about your business, only thatif they do get a rodent problem, you dash to theiraid. Some may be concerned to learn that their‘Ring of Protection’ that they have been sold is nolonger in place. Either you re-educate them,(which may be difficult if you sold them theconcept in the first place), or you keep quiet. The main danger in not telling your client what youare doing is the competitor’s salesman who comesalong and claims that your client is being conned.Such individuals are either seriously misguidedabout what is now happening with regard toSGARs Stewardship, or who are cynically twistingthings to their own advantage. To help youcounter this, the NPTA, working with the BPCA, hasproduced an official letter explaining the newsituation, which you can request from theAssociation’s Head Office to present to your clients.

We all need to move towards a new businessmodel in the light of the changes that are comingour way. We can no longer rely on the existingmodel that depends on the long-term deploymentof SGARs in tamper-resisting bait boxes, routinelychecked and replaced. We have to move to a morereactive model, otherwise we will lose thesevaluable products for good.

The Industry needs a New Business Model IAIN TURNER - NPTA Director and Working Technician

Today’s Technician December 201428 Today’s Technician December 201429


Being a keen ferreter myself and spending many a frostymorning rabbiting at locations throughout the Midlands, therewas one demonstration I really wanted to see at the 2014annual Pest Tech exhibition.Simon Whitehead of Pakefield ferrets had travelled up from Suffolk to wow the crowds with histeam of ferrets. Simon is well known among the ferreting fraternity writing articles forCountryman’s Weekly and the Shooting Times as well as appearing at many of the game fairs upand down the country throughout the summer months.

SIMON WHITEHEAD AND HIS FERRETS

From the off Simon had the crowd of onlookers captivated with his humorous talk and practicaldemonstration in the art of traditional rabbiting, from preparing his ferrets at a young age for work, togiving advice on ferret husbandry, housing and the essential ferreting equipment used when outrabbiting and the general conditioning of his ferrets before they even enter the working arena, and hemade it quite clear that there was no room for sentiment, the ferrets were there to work as part of ateam.

Simon spoke about the type of purse nets he uses for each rabbiting job and why he used that particularnet as well as where to position a long net to ensure maximum success, just in case you have missed thatone hole that the rabbit is sure to emerge from to make his escape.

He showed the crowd just how to work the ferrets through the rabbit burrows pushing the rabbits intothe waiting purse nets above, how to use a locator just in case your ferret decides to go AWOL in a rabbitwarren below ground and the tools used to retrieve it.

At the end of the demonstration it was pretty obvious to me that Simon Whitehead eats, sleeps anddreams rabbiting and the knowledge he has gained over the years is second to none and I for one will bepushing to see if we can entice Simon back again for Pestech 2015

Falconry DisplayUnfortunately due to unforeseencircumstances this display could not takeplace although JRCS Falconry did bring aselection of birds on the day and Jan andAbi were in attendance to answerquestions regarding the use of birds ofprey in pest control.

Gun RangeA very popular outdoor special was againin place during our 2014 event.

Run as always by ATEO airgun training inconjunction with BSA guns, the use ofthis range enabled those who wanted totry the very latest rifles for pest controlfrom BSA, to get a feel for any of theweapons on display before consideringpurchase. Unfortunately the range wasshut down for a short time and moved toallow more availability for parking. Weapologise for any inconvenience.

Charity RunCharity Run

Cheque toWater for Kidsraised by theNPTA Golf Dayand presentedby Adam andJulie after themeal butbefore theentertainment


After a gruelling 15 minutewarm up, well gruelling forthose of us who participated, wewere off. The first obstacle, agiant paddling pool with mudin, wasn’t the easiest toovercome especially for those alittle on the shorter side (I won’tmention any names here).Thankfully Donna (oops) washelped, well dragged, over thewall of the obstacle by her teammates although this did meanshe went head first into the mud(hee hee)....

There were a few more obstaclesalong the way, tunnels, cargonets to crawl under, this one wasespecially difficult for Sophiewho had a man standing on thenet refusing to move until sheput her torso on the floor tocrawl. There were pools of mudto crawl through and a cargonet obstacle to climb over. Forthose of us (me actually), scaredof heights, this wasn’t a stroll inthe park but thanks to teamspirit and oodles ofencouragement from fellowparticipants, I managed.

The final obstacle was a bouncycastle slide with a pool of mudat the bottom and a team ofeager gentlemen throwing mudat you as you came down. Ours,as you can imagine, was a ratherundignified finale to what hadbeen a terrific but emotionalcharity run.

The Troublesome Trio would liketo thank all those very kind andgenerous people who sponsoredthem, raising in the region of£500 for Cancer Research UK.

Pest Tech 2014 • Pest Tech 2014 •


Pest Control News DinnerA fitting end to PestTech was asalways the Pest Control News Dinner,as usual held at the Windmill VillageHotel, being the favoured venue formany exhibitors to stay both beforeand after the exhibition.This venue has not only the facility to hold a dinnerof this magnitude but also has almost enoughrooms to accommodate those taking part.

The format for the 2014 dinner was slightlydifferent which many who attended felt was awelcome change. The organisers and sponsors ofthis event should give themselves a well deservedpat on the back. It was absolutely fabulous andheartily enjoyed by all who attended. WELL DONE PCN.

WITH MUD!WITH MUD!On a bright September morning, the ladies from the NPTAOffice – Julie, Donna and Sophie (aka Troublesome Trio) –set off to take part in the 5K Cancer Research Race, PrettyMuddy. Running in memory of their loved ones and allthose who have been affected by this terrible disease, thegirls donned their cancer research tee shirts, bright pinktutus, bright pink leg warmers and bright pink net glovesand set off to the start line.

On a bright September morning, the ladies from the NPTAOffice – Julie, Donna and Sophie (aka Troublesome Trio) –set off to take part in the 5K Cancer Research Race, PrettyMuddy. Running in memory of their loved ones and allthose who have been affected by this terrible disease, thegirls donned their cancer research tee shirts, bright pinktutus, bright pink leg warmers and bright pink net glovesand set off to the start line.

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