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June 2022
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Chief Executive Officer's Notes
Just got home from Disneyland where PCOC hosted its Annual Expo last week. I wanted to thank all the members who attended and especially thank all the affiliates who sponsored our numerous events and purchased booths for our exhibit hall. From our committee's meetings to our board of directors and numerous speakers who participated in our general membership meeting, there was something for everyone to be engaged in. As is the custom as every year, we swear in a new president and this year it's Greg Augustine. We wish Greg well as he begins his final year on the Executive Committee leading the Pest Control Operators of California.
Upcoming Events
Legislative Update
Usually, the name of the game is “Change.” This month it is not. The two bills that PCOC sponsored, AB 2452 (Chen): the Fumigation enforcement program extension and SB 1064 (Newman): Workman’s Comp for Pest Control companies, and the bill that we are following, AB 2146 (Bauer-Kahan: The Neonic ban), are all moving forward, unchanged. We support the first two bills listed here and want them continue to move along the path that they are. However, the third one we have a very different opinion on. That one has flown through the committees easily regardless of how much opposition we, ag, DPR, and county ag have thrown in its way. There is one more committee that it is being heard in and this one has the most potential for it to be held there. We will be pulling the strings that we have to see what we can do. Darren Van Steenwyk, M.S., BCE Affiliate Corner
A Bed Bug Bonanza? Covid-19 Might Have One Punch Left to Deliver Bed bugs cases likely to rise thanks to Covid Customers will agree that even one bed bug infestation is one too many, but things get especially worrisome when there’s an explosion of cases all at once, a troubling health threat that appears to be just on the horizon. Generally speaking, the statistics of bed bug incidents are relatively stable, constant and predictable, which has helped keep the problem manageable. There is reason to believe there is an increase in infestations in mid-to-late summer every year, but not for biological reasons. Instead, this annual uptick in bed bug activity can be explained by human activity. Bed bugs can’t travel on their own. Rather, they have to hitch a ride with a host. As people leave their homes for vacation during the summer, bed bugs get their chance to travel far and wide, even across oceans. An infested hotel room may host several guests before anyone is alerted to the problem, and then they all travel back home before autumn, when the problem is likely to spread to family members, neighbors, colleagues and others. Now, the same principles that drive this yearly boom for bed bugs appear set to cause a much worse problem and, like so much else these days, it’s all thanks to COVID-19. When the coronavirus first reared its ugly head, one of the few unexpected upsides was a dramatic decrease in the spread of bed bugs. Why? Because the world was experiencing the opposite of the usual summer-time bonanza. Lockdowns, strict travel restrictions and anxiety over meeting in large groups meant that fewer bed bugs could take advantage of increasingly rare opportunities to find new hosts. Bed bug infestations were down by a full 20%. Now, though, the world is opening back up and tourism is on the rise. We may have learned a thing or two about trying to keep public spaces cleaner due to the pandemic, but the fact remains that more travelers in more hotel rooms and AirBnbs are likely to spread more bed bugs. But wait! If bed bugs weren’t able to spread effectively during the pandemic, those who went without a host for long enough should have died, right? Unfortunately, this is an unlikely scenario. Bed bugs can live without feeding for around 400 days, which suggests that despite slower rates of spread, the overall bed bug population has probably changed very little, if at all, as a result of the pandemic. Instead, they’ve gone hungry for longer than normal and are now just waiting for the right opportunity to find a new host. What can customers do to protect themselves against this new wave of bed bugs? ● Avoid taking home used clothing, furniture and books ● Conduct regular, thorough checks of their home ● Examine hotel rooms and other accommodations carefully when traveling ● Stock up on an easy-to-use pest control product like Sterifab Bed bugs may be on the rise as Covid falls, but with a bit of diligence and the right tools, you can help your customers protect their homes and businesses against a “pandemic” of bed bugs.
A staff writer at Sterifab, John-Michael Kibrick is a writer, editor and Hebrew-English translator. Formerly a journalist and news editor for the Israeli publications Haaretz and Ynet, John-Michael has since expanded his knowledge to include pest control and disinfectants.
PCOC Monthly Insurance/Safety Tip
Thirty-Five Percent of Comp Injuries Happen the First Year There’s a better than 1 in 3 chance if an employee has an injury, it will be during their first year on the job. That’s according to the 2022 Injury Impact Report just released by The Travelers Companies, Inc., the nation’s largest workers compensation insurer. The study analyzed more than 1.5 million workers compensation claims over a five-year period (2015-2019) and revealed that 35% of injuries occur during employees’ first year on the job, regardless of age or industry experience. “Our data underscores the importance of comprehensive onboarding and training programs for employees, particularly as we continue to navigate the challenges of COVID-19 and see many workers starting new jobs,” said Chris Hayes, Assistant Vice President, Travelers Risk Control – Workers Compensation and Transportation. “While new employees are among the most vulnerable, many injuries sustained by employees of any tenure can often be prevented if the proper safety measures are in place.” The study provided insights in several areas related to first-year injury claims. Most Common and Costliest Claims The most common causes of first-year injuries were overexertion (27% of claims); slips, trips and falls (22%); being struck by an object (14%); cuts and punctures (6%); being caught in or between objects (6%); and motor vehicle accidents (6%). The most expensive claims, accounting for just 8% of total claims but 26% of total claim costs, were amputations, multiple traumas, electric shock and dislocations. Industries Most Affected The restaurant industry experienced the most claims from first-year employees, with 53% of the claims involving the newest workers and representing 47% of total claim costs. The construction industry was a close second, with nearly half of all claims coming from those who were new to the job, driving 52% of the industry’s claim costs. Missed Workdays First-year injuries led to more than 6 million lost workdays over the five-year period studied, representing 37% of all lost days. Among all worker injuries over the same period, construction workers on average missed the most workdays (98) due to an injury, followed by employees in transportation (88) and those in services (69), which includes businesses such as legal, engineering and accounting firms. Dislocation and inflammation injuries resulted in the most time away from work on average, at 132 and 82 workdays, respectively. Strains and falls both caused workers to miss an average of 69 workdays, followed by motor vehicle accidents (61) and being struck by an object (59). Additional findings, as well as recommendations for creating safer workspaces and helping employees recover from work-related accidents, can be found at Travelers.com/injuryimpactreport. About the Injury Impact Report Travelers analyzed more than 1.5 million workers compensation claims it received between 2015 and 2019 from a variety of industries and business sizes. Findings were based solely on indemnity claims, where the injured employees could not immediately return to work and incurred medical costs. This is the second analysis of its kind conducted by the company. The first was in 2016 and included data between 2010 and 2014. For more information or help, contact the Insurance professionals of EPIC’s PCOC Insurance Program.
Eric Shaw Laura Coy Michael Glauser Managing Principal Vice President Account Executive eric.shaw@epicbrokers.com laura.coy@epicbrokers.com michael.glauser@epicbrokers.com
Member News
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| Name/Company/District | Member Type | Join Date |
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Elizabeth Cervantez Rodriguez |
R | 5/4/2022 |
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Eric Martinez |
S | 5/5/2022 |
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Kurt Anderson |
A | 5/6/2022 |
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Abraham Guerrero |
R | 5/9/2022 |
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Marco Tapia |
R | 5/9/2022 |
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Trevor Jones |
S | 5/11/2022 |
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Rachel Gonzalez |
S | 6/2/2022 |
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Robert Castillo |
R | 6/10/2022 |
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