Health Care Facilities

1. Integrated Pest Management

EcoSMART Technologies, Inc. strongly advocates the use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM is an environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common sense practices. IPM programs use current, comprehensive information on the life cycles of pests and their interactions with the environment. This information, in combination with available pest control methods, is used to manage pest damage by the most economical means, with the least possible hazard to people, property and the environment. IPM programs take advantage of all pest management options possible including, but not limited to, the judicious use of pesticides.

Understanding pests’ needs is essential to implementing IPM. Pests seek habitats that provide basic needs such as air, moisture, food and shelter. Pest populations can be prevented or controlled by creating inhospitable environments, by removing some of the basic elements pests need to survive, or by blocking their access into structures. Pests may be managed by other methods such as traps, vacuums or pesticides. EcoSMART and your Pest Management Professional (PMP) will become your partners in identifying maintenance and sanitation opportunities, which will minimize the need for chemicals.

An IPM program consists of a cycle of inspecting, identifying, monitoring, evaluating and selection of the appropriate control methods. Routine inspection and accurate identification of pests are vital steps in IPM to insure control methods will be effective. Once the pest is identified and the source of activity is pinpointed, habitat modifications such as exclusion, repair or sanitation efforts will greatly reduce the prevalence of the pest. Information gained through a continuous monitoring program is evaluated to determine whether the action threshold has been exceeded and what can be done in the way of prevention.

2. General Requirements - PMP

• Your service technician will perform a thorough inspection, using EcoPCO® ACU Contact Insecticide where appropriate, during each scheduled visit. Evaluation of inspection results and monitors will determine the appropriate treating methods that will then be utilized.
• Copies of labels and Material Safety Data Sheets will be provided upon request.
• Service to your property will be performed a minimum of one time per month. In the unlikely event that additional services are necessary between regular services, they will be provided at no additional cost.
• Your service technician will provide a written report after each regular visit which will describe deficiencies in housekeeping, maintenance or sanitation which could induce pest problems. Recommendations will be made for correcting these deficiencies.

3. General Requirements - Customer

• Your part of this partnership will include making the premises available for service at the specified time and ensuring that all areas are accessible for inspection and treatment.
• Your premises will be prepared for service according to the agreed upon conditions to insure protection of your property from contamination or adulteration during the service.
• You will be responsible for prompt correction of the deficiencies noted on the written report provided by your service technician. This is critical to insure the integrity of your IPM program.
• You will be responsible for training your employees to conduct routine cleaning processes that do not disturb, remove or contaminate the control methods placed by your service technician.

4. Insect Control

• A. Patient Rooms Your service technician will inspect and/or treat patient rooms with EcoPCO® ACU at the frequency specified on the service schedule.
  
  As a precaution, no treatments involving the use of pesticides will be rendered to patient areas until all patients have been removed to another area and with the understanding that patients will not be returned until proper ventilation has removed any lingering chemical odors (approximately one hour after treatment is completed).
  
  Your technician will install non-chemical sticky traps in patient occupied areas to monitor for insect activity.
  
  Chemical applications, when warranted, will be restricted to the use of minimum-risk and/or reduced-risk insecticides like EcoPCO® AR•X Multi-Purpose Insecticide and/or EcoPCO® WP•X Wettable Powder Insecticide. Void areas may be treated using EcoPCO® D•X Dust Insecticide or EcoEXEMPT® D Dust Insecticide.



• B. Nurses Station/Pantries/Soiled Linen Rooms
  
  Your technician will inspect these areas monthly or at the frequency specified in the service schedule. Because of the close proximity to patient areas, insecticide usage will be limited to minimum-risk and/or reduced-risk insecticides such as EcoPCO® AR•X or EcoPCO® WP•X applied directly into cracks, crevices, and harborage areas. Sticky traps will be installed to aid in monitoring for insect activity and will be inspected during each scheduled service visit.



• C. Engineering/Laundry/Housekeeping
  
  These portions of the complex historically tend to be more conducive to pest infestations than other areas. Your service technician will inspect using EcoPCO® ACU to flush and kill any insects encountered. Your service technician will then treat monthly or as per the service schedule to ensure there is no pest build up in these areas using EcoPCO® AR•X or EcoPCO® WP•X. EcoPCO® D•X or EcoEXEMPT® D will be applied to void areas.



• D. Dietary Operations
  
  To alleviate the risk of contamination, your PMP recommends that you prepare for pest control service prior to the initial treatment. It is not necessary to do major preparation for regular monthly services, but it is necessary to maintain an adequate level of sanitation. Routine cleaning operations should be performed carefully so as not to contaminate your PMP’s treatments.
  
  Your operation will realize substantial savings since overtime labor and pay will not be required for preparation for service or for extensive clean up following the treatment.
  
  1. Kitchen and Food Preparation Areas
  
  Your PMP has conducted extensive research on the control of insect problems in food preparation areas. Your PMP knows that attention to detail is the key to success. Your facility will have an individualized treatment plan designed to fit your specific needs.
  
  Your service technician will provide a complete and thorough inspection using EcoPCO® ACU to flush and kill existing pests. This detailed inspection will identify the treatment locations for optimal insect control. Common areas include, but are not limited to, under and behind stainless steel tables, sinks and splashboards, electrical outlets, switches, compressors and control boxes, counter top equipment (i.e., coffee makers, soft drink machines, microwaves, meat slicers, etc.), behind false walls near food prep tables, shelving, drop ceilings, clocks and other wall mounted items, dishwasher units and soiled dish conveyors and carts, all of which are known harborage areas.
  
  Your service technician will search out cracks and crevices at the wall/ceiling junctures, wall/floor junctures and around corner areas. Treatment will be rendered as necessary using EcoPCO® AR•X or EcoPCO® WP•X as residual treatments in cracks and crevices. This treatment will also consist of an ongoing program of inspection, physical removal of any insects that are discovered, applications of EcoPCO® D•X or EcoEXEMPT® D in void areas, and then caulking and sealing to eliminate harborages.
  
  Insect monitoring devices will be maintained in strategic locations throughout the facility.
  
  Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs) may be applied every three - four months to help prevent the growth and development of insects which hatch from egg capsules. IGRs will also interrupt the normal reproductive patterns.
  
  EcoPCO® D•X or EcoEXEMPT® D applications will be strategically placed in void areas to prevent insect migration into sensitive environments.
  
  2. Storage Areas
  
  The storage areas of your facility are critical since this is usually the source of most incoming pest problems. These areas require your special cooperation. The fewer products that are kept in “master pack” the more effective your PMP’s treatment strategy will be. Cardboard removal is essential to elimination of potential harborage sources.

5. Rodent Control

• Your technician will rely upon visual inspections and placement of rodent glue traps in locations most likely to be inhabited by rodents to determine if more appropriate action is necessary.
• When rodents are suspected to be present inside, your PMP’s approach will first be to use non-chemical means of control such as mechanical traps, additional glue broads, and/or structural modification to prevent rodents from entering and harboring.
• When non-chemical measures fail to produce desired results, your PMP may resort to placement of rodent baits in interior locations. Placements will be made in non-public areas such as mechanical rooms, elevator pits, wall voids, etc.
• Rodent control in exterior locations will consist of (as needed) placement of weatherproof rodenticides in tamper-resistant bait station and/or treatment directly into rodent burrows.

6. Perimeter Insect Control

One of the best ways to control insect problems indoors is to prevent them from entering from the outside. Your PMP will utilize a perimeter defense strategy around the exterior at regular intervals. This may include the use of exclusion techniques as well as EcoPCO® WP•X Wettable Powder Insecticide, EcoEXEMPT® G Granular Insecticide and/or a liquid application of EcoEXEMPT® IC-2 Insecticide Concentrate. Any wasp nests will be eliminated using EcoPCO® Jet•X Wasp/Hornet/Yellow Jacket Contact Insecticide or EcoEXEMPT® Jet Wasp & Hornet Killer. If excessive vegetation or weeds are present they can offer major harborages for pests. Your PMP may use Matran PRO Herbicide Concentrate:Non-Selective to burn down unwanted vegetation and eliminate potential harborage areas.