August: Canadian National Pest Management Safety Awareness Month
Since when????
Since I just declared it!!! Hey, it’s my blog!
But seriously, this is a good time….mid-season…to take stock of your safety and application equipment, truck inventory, and record keeping.
PPE;
You have probably been using your respirator for the past few months, but remember from your training the cartridges are only good for about 8 hours of use. Now is the perfect time to swap them out, before the outdoor applications increase for ants, cluster flies and bees or wasps.
In fact…the first 10 customers (you know the legalese….must be a Gardex customer, licensed for Pest Control…blah blah blah) who mention this rant to a Gardex customer service rep gets a new pair of cartridges for their Advantage half or full face mask!
Using goggles? Gotten your free pair yet? In an effort to show our concern for your safety, call for your free pair when you place your next order.
And toss any used gloves and replace. They’re pretty cheap really.
In your truck;
Are your MSDS’s and labels for the products you carry in a binder in your truck accurate? Anything new in there? Up to date? Of course with the amount of new products we get….(tongue in cheek)
Have you triple rinsed all your empty containers and used the rinsate? Now’s a great time, while you are still spraying.
Also check your vehicle spill kit and replenish, along with your personal first aid kit.
Are your truck labels in good order? We have the Chemical Warning signs, so if you need one call.
Or your sprayer;
After several months of use, those seals and rings may need replaced. Especially the check valve at the bottom of the pump cylinder, and the pump cylinder gasket at the top of the cylinder. Both of these keep pressure up, plus prevent a back flow into the cylinder and out the top.
Ever change your nozzles. They’re brass and wear out.
Any leaks from the wand or hose? Time to fix them up.
How about checking out that ladder? Make certain it’s sound and used according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.
So yes, August is Safety Awareness Month for Pest Manage Professionals, but we all know safety is every day in our line of work!
But take 30 minutes on August 1st and make sure everything is in order. Clean your truck, replenish supplies, and take care of that respirator.
Have a continued safe and productive summer!