 On March 18-20, hundreds of pest management professionals will climb Capitol Hill in Washington, DC to meet with their members of Congress – providing opportunities to promote the pest management industry and advocate for issues important to us. Legislative Day also features a full program including keynote addresses by renowned political speakers. Register today and join us in making a difference in our industry.
   News From National
“This project is a really exciting one for our industry because we will be using sophisticated equipment to obtain never-before-seen footage of termites and glean more insight into the important roles that termite castes play in eating their way through homes,” said Cindy Mannes, executive director of PPMA. “The consumer education aspect of this project is huge. Our goal is to physically demonstrate the hidden dangers that these wood-destroying insects pose to consumers’ biggest investments, and hit home the importance of regular prevention and professional inspection.” Click here to learn more. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has recently updated the rule for worker exposure to respirable silica. For information regarding the rule and termite treatment drilling in the pest management industry, click here. In light of the new rule, NPMA is reviewing potential options for conducting standardized laboratory testing of respirable silica exposure over an averaged 8-hour workday for termite technicians. This standardized data may then be used to determine the maximum amount of exposure of silica particles. The results of the study could determine whether implementation of new protocols are necessary for the pest management industry to limit exposure to silica particles exceeding the action level set by OSHA. For any questions regarding the new rule or laboratory testing of silica exposure, email Brittany Campbell at bcampbell@pestworld.org. 
Ask the Expert: Question of the Week
Q: Our company just invested in a bed bug detection dog. How do I get our canine certified? A: Scent detection canine certification testing can be performed by an organized body or an individual evaluator. When choosing who will perform the certification testing and provide the credential for your canine team, there are many factors to consider, not the least of which are the qualifications of the evaluators and the testing protocols and procedures employed. Check to make sure that the evaluator meets the qualifications set forth in the NPMA Best Management Practices for Bed Bugs (BMPs) and the certification test meets the minimum standards outlined in the BMPs. A common misconception is the idea that a canine can be individually certified. The BMPs note that only canine teams (the handler and the canine) can be certified. Without human handlers interpreting the behavioral changes in their canine counterparts, canines have little value as bed bug detectors. If multiple handlers are assigned to perform inspections with a single canine, each combination of canine and handler must be tested individually. If a single handler works with multiple canines, the same rule applies. The reason for this requirement is that each canine has unique, often subtle, behavioral cues that indicate that it has detected a target odor, so handlers need to be trained and tested for work with each canine. In the same way that the BMPs do not provide for certification of individual handlers or canines, individual companies are not able to be certified either. Email Brittany Campbell, NPMA’s staff entomologist, for answers to your most challenging questions. Include your name and company’s name to have your question potentially featured in the next ePestWorld!
New MembersBravo Pest Control of Durham, NC Pest Pic of the Week
Carpenter Ants As a membership benefit, NPMA has developed a gallery of 
Member Benefit HighlightHave a human resources problem? Question? Crisis? Do you simply need to brainstorm a problem or a particular employee situation? NPMA members can call, email or text Seay Management Consultants to speak with one of their HR consultants free of charge regarding any employment issue that arises in your business. The comprehensive menu of services provided can be found here. Sandy Seay and his associates are very familiar with the pest management industry, having represented and advised pest management companies for nearly 50 years. For more information about Seay Management Consultants, click here. To contact Sandy Seay, call 407-426-9484 or email sandy@seay.us.
NPMA Education and Events The Southern Conference is just around the corner! Join us February 6-7 in Memphis, TN to hear the latest research updates from industry experts, network with PMPs from your region and earn valuable recertification credits. Recertification credits have been applied for in the following states: AL, AR, GA, KY, MS, MO, NC, SC, TN and VA. Register today!  Wednesday, February 21 at 1:00 p.m. ET Does it sometimes seem impossible to get a handle on your life? Emails, meetings, budgeting your time…it can feel overwhelming at times. What if you could get control of your life (at least more control)? This webinar will provide you with specific actions that you and your company can take to bring some sanity to your work day and take control of your life. You will walk away from the session with tangible tools and ideas that you can implement immediately. Share these tools and ideas with your colleagues so that you all get better as a team when it comes to managing your email, your meetings and your time. Members Make Headlines
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