Every year most trade associations in Sacramento have a "legislative day" where members converge on the Capitol and visit legislators' offices. This rite of spring (they actually do occur at this time of year because of the legislative calendar) is often taken for granted. This year it is even more important than usual: a new administration and more than 40 new legislators in the assembly alone! This function of YOUR trade association is vitally important for the ongoing protection of our industry. In fact, you could argue that affecting the legislative process is THE most important thing we do! The power of the pest control industry is in the VOICE of individuals working together. This activity rises up from the local level: from the district level that state senators and assemblypersons represent.

That is why the act of making appointments with your local legislators, and inviting them to our legislative reception, is so essential. The more members we have coming to Leg Day, the more effective PCOC can be. It is of great concern to me that, over the last couple of years, the number of attendees has slowly been dropping. This, at a time when the number of legislative threats against the pest control industry is starting to increase. We have an incredibly important opportunity to educate new lawmakers about the pest control industry.

It is true that our grassroots lobbying on our elected officials should not be confined to just one day. In fact, we are in the process of developing an "adopt-a-legislator" program where legislators can spend a day with a pest control professional in his/her district and learn why the public needs to hire a professional. Legislators will, in this way, learn about our responsible, professional and regulated industry.

That being said, I have observed over the years the importance that legislators place on seeing the commitment of their constituents when they take the time to come to Sacramento. Please consider making the extra effort this year to attend our PCOC Leg Day on April 24. Your participation will help educate all the new legislators who have arrived in Sacramento and remind returning lawmakers of the importance of the pest control industry to the state's economy.

NEWS FROM NPMA

NPMA has announced the 2013-2014 Board of Directors nominees. On the ballot are two PCOC members: Treasurer Robert Baker has been nominated for the Director At Large position for Region 4. Past President Lee Whitmore has been nominated for Region 4 Director.

IN MEMORIAM

Kei Yamaguchi passed away on Dec. 25, 2012. He was the founder and president of Yamaguchi Termite Control Service, located in Los Angeles, CA. He was 94 years old, and was in the termite business for 60 years. He worked up until the day before he passed away.

The 2013-2014 Legislative Session of the California Legislature has begun. PCOC's Legislative Agenda is being developed as bills are introduced.

A HELPING HAND

Most active members of PCOC know about the two main charities PCOC operates: PCOC Cares and the PCOC Scholarship. But many don't think about the idea of what a district can do to help others beyond our industry. The San Diego district is a great example of what a district can do to make a difference.

The San Diego district has done much to help support the Polinsky Children's Center. The Center is a 24-hour facility that provides shelter for children who have been removed from their homes for their own safety due to abuse, neglect or their parents' inability to care for them.

Rick Arendt, owner of American Pest Control, first approached his district eight years ago about doing a Christmas gift card drive for the Polinsky Center because many of the kids go there with nothing but what they are wearing. As a former child abuse detective, Rick has had first-hand experience with placing children in the Center. He said, "Can you imagine a child being removed from their home/school/day care with only what they are wearing? We try to make their stay more comfortable and enjoyable. We not only donate toys, but clothing for all ages, blankets, hair dryers, curling irons, sports equipment, books, etc." They also give several hundred dollars in gift cards.

He also told me that the annual population of the center is about 2,500-3,500 children per year, ranging from newborns to 18-year-olds. The center has residential cottages, an infant nursery, medical clinic, school, library, cafeteria, gym, playground and baseball field. It is a secure facility, assuring safety for all involved.

I have found with my short time at PCOC, there are many generous members who try to help where they can. Even in a struggling economy and a state that is not the most conducive to businesses, many in PCOC still remember that there are others less fortunate, and they don't do so for tax breaks or notoriety but because they care. "It's a great cause and I am truly thankful for all that contribute," Rick explained. "I was especially touched by other districts outside of San Diego that also helped this year."

DPR PROPOSED CONTINUING EDUCATION (DPR Regulation No. 13-001)

The Department of Pesticide Regulation proposes to amend sections 6512 and 6513 of Title 3, California Code of Regulations. The proposed changes would require continuing education (CE) sponsors to provide additional information when submitting CE applications for evaluation and approval; set forth criteria for obtaining approval from DPR for online and correspondence CE courses; require CE sponsors and license and certificate holders to retain additional information in their records and require CE sponsors to give license and certificate holders a record of course or program completion. They are also proposing to revise the following application forms: Continuing Education Approval DPR-PML-131 (rev. 8/11) and Continuing Education Additional Presentation Request DPR-PML-132 (rev. 8/11).

Section 6512 broadly outlines what is required of sponsors when submitting CE course applications for content evaluation and approval. However, the current regulations were established when most CE courses were classroom based. Now, a variety of CE course types include correspondence, interactive, online, narrated online and non-interactive (text-based) online courses.

Currently, section 6513 includes the recordkeeping requirements for CE sponsors and license and certificate holders. CE sponsors are required to keep records in order to maintain an accurate account of each DPR approved course, who attended and how much CE credit they received. License and certificate holders must keep records for renewal purposes because they are required to provide DPR with information about their completed CE courses.

A public hearing has been scheduled to receive oral comments regarding the proposed regulatory changes. Date: April 23, 2013. Time: 9:30 a.m. Place: CalEPA Building 1001 I St., Sacramento in the Sierra Hearing Room.

Or you may present comments in writing by no later than 5 p.m. on April 24, 2013. You can email dpr13001@cdpr.ca.gov or fax to (916) 324-1452.

Many of us who have applied for continuing education approval for courses we were holding have spoken with Karen Costly. For many years she has been the person we go to for issues with our courses or for time-sensitive approvals. She has been a valued asset to our industry. She just recently retired from the board, and I would just like to say good luck to her in her retirement. I have had a chance to speak with her replacement, Valerie Connolly. She followed up with me via email and on the phone regarding some CE I had requested. She was very kind and quite helpful. I would ask that all of us in the industry try to help her out in any way we can as she settles in and learns this new position.

Dow AgroSciences will be sponsoring the 2013 Fumigation Banner Contest. The rules are the same as last year, and we have provided a link for you to view the complete set of rules here. The contest will run from March 1 through May 31, 2013. There will be four winners again this year.

Please email submissions to josh@pcoc.org.

Welcome to a new section of Newsbriefs! Here we will be giving news from our members: new hires, retirements, etc. If you have some news you would like to share, please send a short sentence or two to jenai@pcoc.org.

When an injury occurs at your worksite, your first responsibility is to ensure your employee receives prompt and proper treatment based on the severity of the injury. Triage systems can help.

In some cases, your injured employee's supervisor or in-house first aider might not be able to accurately assess what level of care an injured or ill employee needs. You wouldn't want someone to think that the injury isn't serious enough to go through an emergency room wait and delay important medical treatment. On the other hand, going to the local emergency room or urgent care facility for minor medical treatment can get expensive. In addition, your employee and accompanying supervisor can experience an incredibly long wait while other, more seriously injured or ill patients are taken first.

So what other options do employers have? Triage systems use specially trained nurses who can provide immediate assessments and treatment options, no matter what time of day or night. They can help employers obtain the appropriate level of care for injured employees, and reduce costs for that care.

With telephone or online triage, when an injury occurs, the patient or the first responder accesses a 24/7 network of triage nurses. The nurses are trained in clinical algorithms designed by physicians and nurses experienced in occupational health and emergency medicine. The on-duty nurse gathers information related to the injury. Some systems offer translation services, if needed. Through the use of the software and professional judgment, the nurse can recommend first-line treatment for the patient and set up referrals, as needed. Some systems now use Web cameras as well, so the nurse or medical provider can see the patient and provide an even more accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

In addition to ensuring proper treatment, triage systems can help employers with their injury reporting and documentation tasks. Using information from the injured employee or supervisor, the on-call nurse can complete required forms. The system can generate an online report sent directly to the employer's safety, human resource or risk management person for workers' compensation and OSHA 300 log filing. Everyone who needs to know of the injury is in the communication loop almost immediately.

One study has shown that employers utilizing this type of triage system have reduced workers' compensation claim costs by 30 percent by reducing unnecessary trips to the emergency room and time away from work. Using this system has also reduced unnecessary and unsubstantiated claims. Triage systems can also assist in the return-to-work process by recommending light-duty or modified tasks appropriate for the worker's condition.

As technology continues to develop, opportunities will increase for ensuring employees get prompt medical care coupled with a balanced cost-saving program. For more information on this and other cost-control strategies, please contact the PCOC Insurance Program department of Jenkins Insurance Services at (877) 860-7378, or email us at ProPest@Leavitt.com.

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For an additional charge, you may access a 24-hour hotline providing consultation by qualified medical doctors on pesticide-related medical emergencies. This service is provided free of charge to Peacock Group insureds.