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Q: Does the state of Arizona require that all employees applying pesticides be state certified?
The State of Arizona REQUIRES all employees applying pesticides be certified by the state. Through the certification process, the state and employers can ensure that they have quality employees. It will also ensure that equal standards are met for everyone in the pest control industry in Arizona.
This is how it works:
∙The certification process begins with submitting an application to the Office of Pest Management.
∙Fingerprints and birth certificates must be submitted. DPS will conduct a background check and run the fingerprints to ensure that there is no criminal history. That will be submitted to the Office of Pest Management.
∙They will then review all the documents submitted for felony convictions and misdemeanor convictions involving moral character.
∙Once the applicant has passed through the document review, they are allowed to test for their license.
∙The applicant will attend classes that will teach them about the rules and regulations for pest management in their respective areas of licensure. After taking the classes, each applicant must pass two tests. The first test that must be passed is called the CORE test. This is a general applicator test that teaches general application rules and regulations. The second test that must be passed is the category test for the category that the applicant has applied to be licensed for. ∙An applicator is not licensed after passing the CORE test, only after they have passed a category test are they considered licensed.
Northwest Exterminating ensures that our employees meet high standards. Besides the state certification process we also do random drug testing, background checks, ongoing staff training pertinent to each department and a Technician Development Program. Our Tech Development Program is a year-long program to teach a select group of technicians that are in the program more about the pest control industry. With all these controls in place, Northwest Exterminating is providing high quality technicians to serve our customers and represent our company in a positive manner.
Contact us for you pest management needs.
Q: What are pesticide hazards?
Pesticide hazards include acute, immediate toxicity to humans and other non-target organisms; chronic or long-term toxicity such as cancer; and potential to contaminate air, or ground and surface water. Information on many of these potential hazards for specific pesticides can be found on pesticide labels, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and resources such as http://www.pesticideinfo.org.
Q: What is the true number for how many insects are really located on earth?
It is true that there are many insects around the world, but usually the ones that we see are only those near where we live, so many times the number isn’t truly questioned. Once you step back into reality the number of insects around the world is truly high! There are more than 925,000 species that scientists have uncovered. Still this number only represents 20 percent of all species believed to exist. There is still many more bugs yet to classify.
Q: How do I get rid of old pesticides? I have several containers laying around my home and I am afraid to just throw in the trash. Is there a proper way to dispose of them?
Pesticides are commonly found in homes and yes there is a proper way to dispose them. Check out these tips below.
1. First, do not dispose of these pesticides in an illegal or unsafe way. Do not pour them into storm drains and other drains, put them into trash cans, or use other similar disposal methods. These disposal systems do not have the ability to degrade these pesticides properly and the pesticide can quickly put people and the environment at risk. This may also cause a liability problem for you personally or your company.
2. The best method to dispose of old or unwanted pesticides is by using it per label directions. Be careful to use it on a labeled crop, at the labeled rate with all recommended precautions. Even with an old pesticide that may not be effective, follow the label! Just because a pesticide is old and perhaps ineffective, does not mean it is not still toxic. Follow all label precautions when applying any pesticide!
Apply the pesticide in a place where it is least likely to impact people and the environment. Consider that though you must use the pesticide per the label, you do not necessarily have to use the pesticide for the purpose or location for which you bought it. For instance, you may have bought a pesticide for use inside a structure. It may not make sense to apply the pesticide inside just to get rid of it. The same pesticide may also be labeled for use outside in a field, forest, lawn, landscape etc. When disposing of pesticides by applying them, select a location where there will be less risk to people or the environment.
3. If the pesticide is not too old, share it with someone who could use the pesticide legally. The exception to this would be restricted use pesticides (RUPs). Do not share RUPs with someone else, but rather use them yourself. If you give an RUP to another person and they use it incorrectly, you may be liable since the pesticide was purchased under your license number.