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Gaining Access

Residential

You must notify the customer beforehand that you are scheduled to do a pest control treatment via phone call or otherwise before you proceed to the property. You must either knock on the front door and ring the doorbell or otherwise, to alert the client that you have arrived on site. If a minor answers the door or intercom, ask to speak to an adult occupant. 

Introduce yourself to the occupant and explain the work order, confirm the client’s request, and ask about the pest problem using a friendly and professional tone. 

You must use the following introduction or something similar:

“Good morning Mr/Ms [Occupier’s last name] my name is [Your name] I am here to treat [inspect] your home for  [pests included in the job allocation]. Is there anything, in particular, you want me to pay attention to?”

Commercial

You must contact the authorised person at the business and notify them that you are scheduled to do a pest control treatment via phone call or otherwise before you proceed to the property. 

Introduce yourself to the authorised person and explain the work order, confirm the client’s request. Use the following introduction or something similar:

“Good morning Mr/Ms [Authorised person’s last name] my name is [Your name] I am here to treat [inspect] your home for  [pests included in the job allocation]. Is there anything in particular you want me to pay attention to?”

Describing the Job

Before starting the job, the Pest Controller must:

• Inform the client about treatment details.
  • Inform the customer about the equipment, products, and in what areas you intend to use them.
• Ask if the client has any health risks, e.g. asthma.
• Inform the client of the treatment preparations, e.g. the windows need to be closed, and children and pets should be excluded from any area until any pesticide solution has dried and the room has been ventilated, etc.
• Inform the customer that they must leave the premises during the treatment.
• Explain the warranty.
• Confirm the approval of the client to proceed.

Conducting A Site Risk Assessment

Performing a site risk assessment helps identify potential hazards or risks within the property and allows the pest controller to take necessary precautions to ensure their safety and the safety of others.

While you go around the property and familiarise yourself with the building structure, access points and utilities, you must be observant and identify potential hazards or risks that could pose a danger during the treatment.

Some elements to consider before doing a treatment include:

• People
• Children
• Pets (dog/s, cat/s, caged birds)
• Fish tanks/fish pond
• Other animals or pets
• Clothes on line
• Electrical wiring or outlets that can lead to electrical shocks
• Health risks (asthma or respiratory risks)
• Slips and trips
• Temperature
• Spills
• Working at heights
• And other potential risks

Examples of risk and safety considerations you must do before treatment include:

• Exclude occupants, children, and pets for the duration of the treatments 
• Secure pets and make sure they can not escape
• Remove or turn over any pet food or water containers
• Cover fish ponds
• Keep a spill kit on site
• Ensure the ladder is safe to use
• Wear the necessary PPE

Conducting an Inspection

Although the details of the job are already stated in the work order, it is still important to talk to the client and gather information about the property and their pest concerns. Ask about the specific issues that they noticed such as sightings, signs of damage, unusual behaviours, and where they were observed. 

Conduct a thorough visual inspection of the property indoors and/or outdoors. Look for signs of pest activity such as droppings, nests, trails, damaged items, live or dead pests, and any other indication of an infestation. Inspect areas where pests are known to hide such as crawl spaces, kitchens, bathrooms, roof voids, etc. Knowing where to inspect and what signs to look for heavily depends on what type of pest you are dealing with, which is why it is important to know the biology and behaviours of common residential and commercial pests. 

During the infestation, you must be able to identify the type (or species) of pest responsible for the infestation. It is important to correctly identify the pest type or species because it will affect the efficacy of your treatment. If you are not confident in your identification, consult a qualified professional. Additionally, you must also identify the severity of the infestation. These findings will aid in coming up with an effective treatment plan and suggest preventive measures to reduce the present and future infestation. 

Calculations

To determine how much product you need to use during the treatment, you must first calculate the area of the property or a part of the property you need to spray e.g. external walls using a laser metre or a metric tape measure. After calculating the area, you must consult the label of the product and look for the rate you need which depends on the type of insect, area (internal, external, domestic, or commercial etc.), and surface you will apply it on. Once you have determined the rate, you can now calculate the amount of product you need in an area and apply that when mixing. 

Mixing and Measuring Products

Find a safe area to measure, mix, and pour the products. Choose an area that is:

• grassy, a lawn or garden, away from a water source, or food source, and make sure it is well-ventilated. 
• upwind while opening, pouring and mixing the product. 

DO NOT mix and pour products in small or enclosed spaces with limited airflow, as it can lead to a build-up of chemical fumes and the risk of inhalation and exposure. Such areas include: 

• Food preparation areas,
• Areas near water sources,
• Areas where pets and animals frequent, 
• Children’s play areas, and
• Areas with porous or absorbent surfaces like carpets, untreated wood, upholstery, etc., as those materials can absorb and retain the chemicals. 

Before mixing, you must always read the product label and follow mixing directions to ensure  you are using the correct rate and wearing the correct PPE. Keep a spill kit near the the mixing site in case of spills. After mixing, you must. lock the product in a lockable box or lockable area, and Do not just put it in the back of the vehicle. 

Applying Pesticides

The pesticides you will be using depend on the target pest and where they are found. Prior to pesticide application, you must wear the correct PPE based on the risk assessment and product labels. 

Cockroach, Ants and Spiders (CAS) Job

Apply Dust to the exterior wall void

• You must attach an ELCB as close as possible to the power outlet.
• You must only use a product described as an Approved Dust listed in the Pesticide List
• Ensure Dust does not come into contact with caged birds or fish.
• For brick veneer dwellings, use a Dusting Machine to distribute Dust at the Label Rate into the wall cavities via the weep holes. 
• For weatherboard homes, use a Dusting Machine to distribute Dust at the Label Rate into the wall cavities by placing the nozzle under the lowest board.
• Where the construction of the building or any other condition prevents the safe application of dust into the wall cavities you must not apply dust in an unsafe manner and you must notify Us of the reason[s] the application would have been unsafe and any alternative treatment carried out when You Complete the Job.
• Replace the Dusting Machine into a secure part of Your Vehicle.
• Remove the electrical extension cord and either turn off the power point or replace the power cord for the appliance that was previously inserted into the power point.
• Double check to ensure that any electrical appliance, in particular any fridge or freezer has not had its power supply interrupted.

Apply Spider Spray

• Mix the required amount of Spider Spray Solution. 
• You must only use a product listed in the Pesticide List as an approved Spider Spray product.
• Ensure Your Equipment is in good working order.
• Using either a 6502 or a 6504 fanjet tip, apply the spray solution to the entire external perimeter wall surface, eaves, gutters and downpipes to a height of at least 3 metres.
• Spray to the ‘point of run off’
• Ensure the fan spray orientation is vertical when spraying brick surface.   
• Use the angle of the fan to spray into areas obstructed by downpipes, gutters, eaves, fixtures and stored items.
• Use the angle of the fan jet to spray around windows and door frames to achieve adequate coverage without excessive overspray
• Check and spray, if necessary, any trees close to the dwelling for ‘orb weaving spiders’ or other webbing spiders.
• Pay special attention to garage doors for redback spiders.
• Inspect external children’s play equipment and spot treat.
• Areas above 3 meters may be accessed with an extension wand or a cone jet
• Inspect and spray letter-box and accessible fences.
• Inspect and spray all perimeter fences 
• Where it is unsafe or in your reasonable opinion not appropriate to apply Spider Spray you must notify us of the reason[s] why within 24 hours and arrange to return to the Site and complete the Spider Spray when it is safe and in your reasonable opinion appropriate.
• You must not Complete the Job until either:
• the Spider Spray has been carried out; or 
• You have received written authorization from us authorizing you to Complete the Job.

Apply Ant Spray

• Mix the required amount of Ant Spray Solution in accordance with the label.
• You must only use a product listed in Pesticide List as an approved Ant Spray.
• Check the label and the spray in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations for the soil abutting the perimeter of the dwelling.
• Apply around the letter box.
• Wind hose onto hose reel and secure wand and trigger.
• Where it is unsafe or in your reasonable opinion not appropriate to apply Ant Spray you must notify us of the reason[s] why within 24 hours and arrange to return to the Site and complete the Ant Spray when it is safe and in your reasonable opinion appropriate.
• You must not Complete the Job until either:
• the Ant Spray has been carried out; or 
• You have received written authorisation from Us authorising you to Complete the Job.

Install Ant Bait(s) 

• You must only install ant bait[s] in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
• You must only use a product listed in the Pesticide List as an approved Ant Bait.

Apply Dust to roof void 

• You must apply Dust to all Accessible roof areas 
• You must only apply Dust listed in the Pesticide List as an Approved Dust
• If you remove an electrical appliance lead in order to connect the Dusting Machine you must reconnect the appliance immediately after You have finished applying dust to the roof void.
• You must use a ladder to remove the access point (manhole) cover.
• You must use a torch to inspect the roof void before applying Dust to the roof void.
• Using the Dusting Machine’s dust/air mixture control and the extension wands you must apply an even distribution of dust to the entire roof void. 
• If it is not possible to apply an even distribution of Dust from the manhole You must enter the roof void to complete the operation.
• If You enter the roof void You must not allow any component of the roof to bear of any significant portion of Your body weight that is not either: 
• a part of a truss; or
• substantial roof support (obviously capable of supporting the weight of Your body) .
• If there is no access to the roof void or it is unsafe to access the roof void you must notify us when you Complete the Job.
• If the access to the roof void is obstructed you must within 24 hours and you must make reasonable efforts to return to Apply Dust to the roof void.
• Where access is obstructed You must not Complete the Job until either:
• Dust has been applied to the roof void; or 

You have received written authorisation from us to Complete the Job.

Apply Cockroach Gel 

• You must only apply Cockroach Gel listed in the Pesticide List as an approved Cockroach Gel.
• Read the label and apply the Cockroach Gel in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations, in accordance with the severity of the infestation. 
• You must inspect the Wet Areas for signs of German Cockroaches and Large Cockroaches.
• Where evidence of German Cockroaches is found you must:
• Diligently search for harbourages and colonies;

Apply Internal Perimeter Spray

• Subject to the provisions in this section You must apply an internal perimeter spray.
• You must only use a 4001 spray tip unless You are injecting into a void.
• You must only use the chemicals listed in the Pesticide List as an approved Internal Perimeter Spray.
• You must apply a fine spray to all accessible parts of the entire perimeter to all the rooms of the dwelling.
• You must apply the spray to garage doorways to the point of run-off.
• You must not spray across doorways or entrances where there is a risk of slipping.
• Where there is evidence of large cockroaches harbouring in voids you must inject spray into those voids.

Handling pesticide spills

In the event that you spilled a liquid product, you must do the following:

• Make sure you are wearing the right PPE when using the spill kit. 
• Quickly contain the spill and limit the spill area to prevent it from spreading further. You can use an absorbent material or earth if it’s unavailable. 
• Cover the whole spillage area with absorbent material and allow time for the pesticide to be absorbed.
• Sweep or scoop the mixture into a container and label it “waste for disposal”.
• Dispose of the container with the spillage properly by reading the label of the product.
• Clean up or decontaminate the spill site using the recommendations stated on the label or SDS of the product.  

For dry pesticide (granular, dust, or powder) spills:

• Collect the spill, and if possible, put it back in the original container.
• Wear the proper PPE, including a respirator when scooping up dry pesticides that you can easily inhale.
• If the pesticide is not contaminated with soil or wet, you may store it and use it in the future. Otherwise, seal it in heavy-duty plastic and label it “waste for disposal”, and read the product label and follow the instructions on proper disposal. 

Restore the site 

Once you are done treating the area, you must restore it to its original condition. Anything that was moved due to risk assessment, or to gain access to a harbourage should be placed back to where it was e.g. pet’s water bowls should be replaced, replace toaster or microwave if it was moved, any electrical appliances that were removed to use the dusting machine should immediately be reconnected, etc. 

Completing documents, Re-entry time, and Post Treatment Expectations

After the treatment, talk to the client and discuss the terms and conditions and the invoice completion. You must ensure to discuss when the occupants can re-enter the treated rooms and ventilate the house to allow fresh air to circulate and remove any lingering odour or fumes from the chemicals. 

You must discuss what to expect after the treatment. For example, after a cockroach treatment, you must explain that the occupants might notice that there is an increase in pest activity after the treatment, which is normal because the pests were flushed out from hiding spots; the cockroach activity should decrease within the first 2 weeks, then over the following weeks. You should also explain the mode of action of the products you used to assure the customer that the treatment will work. 

Clean & tidy up

Clean all equipment used during the treatment immediately after use, as dried pesticides are harder to clean. Clean the equipment away from water supplies and children and animals, also check the pesticide label to know how to properly dispose of and store them. Wash and clean your PPE immediately after use. Return all items such as sprayers, warning signs, etc. to the vehicle, and correctly store PPE. Be sure to wash any parts of the body that may have been exposed to the pesticides with soap and water.