Educational Industry
Because students of various ages spend much of their day at these sensitive facilities, the administrators are most concerned with the disease-spreading of pests, and the possible exposure of the students to potentially harmful materials. These pests can be disruptive to the children’s and students’ environment. The local regulation requires that all schools establish formal IPM policies and implement IPM programs in their facilities. Without an active IPM program in these facilities, nothing may protect the children and students from the negative effects of pests.
Educational facilities are at risk for many pests because:
- pests can enter the schools on student’ belongings on a daily basis
- food and water are carried throughout the facilities
- plentiful water supplies in these facilities create an environment conducive to pests
- pests often move indoor from large exterior areas
- heat and food scraps in the school cafeteria can attract and maintain pests (especially ants, cockroaches, and rodents
- exterior lighting may attract pests.
Failure to control pests by pest control operators in educational facilities can lead to serious consequences and concerns. These facilities are monitored by governmental agencies that are dealing with the cost of pest control treatments. Also, reputation or poor publicity after discovering a single pest can prevent students, parents, and the facility staff from re-entering these facilities.
ETS professionals are very knowledgeable and dedicated to educating and encouraging the managers, principals, or superintendents of these facilities to adopt an IPM program that emphasizes on sanitation, pest exclusions, and non-chemical pest management approaches as the first and most preferred options, and pesticides as the least preferred. ETS inspectors inform the administrators on how to minimize pest-conducive conditions (reduce sources of food, water and shelter for pests in school buildings and grounds) and give advice on improving the sanitation level.
