Hamilton Environmental Solutions' PESP Strategy

Describe your Organization’s Five-Year Goals Related to Pesticide Risk Reduction

At Hamilton Environmental Solutions we firmly believe that we are protectors of public health and property. We take very seriously our role as stewards of the environment and seek to find ways to perform the highest level of pest management/prevention using Green Pest Management (GPM) methods. We understand and appreciate the important role that pesticides play in allowing us to accomplish our mandate of protecting public health and property. That said we focus on the use of GPM in every service that we offer emphasizing

Inspection
Removal of food and harborage
Exclusion
Judicious usage of pesticides
Monitoring

We choose to use mainly G.R.A.S. (Generally Regarded as Safe) products whenever a pesticide is needed and only after prudent IPM/GPM measures are taken using inspection, identification, exclusionary methods and removing food and harborage from a site. We are active in promoting within our industry and within local, state and federal government the responsible and judicious use of all pesticides and standing as an example of using sound judgment, innovative techniques and the highest level of training and expertise in the field of Pest Management. We aim to raise the bar and set the pace for companies in being progressive and mindful of the environment and our responsibility and opportunity to provide our services in a more environmentally sensitive and friendly way.

What do you envision doing (broadly) to try to resolve your major issues?

Our vision for our pesticide risk reduction program is as follows:

Reduction in broadcast bait/granular applications and the elimination of all broadcast spraying.
Eliminating the use of all chemicals with a label higher than a “caution” label.
Reducing the dependency on chemicals labeled “caution” by utilizing chemicals derived from essential plant oils that are categorized under the G.R.A.S. (Generally Regarded as Safe) category.
Utilizing sanitation and environmental/structural modification on all accounts.
Create a training and education program for our clients employees to educate them on the things they can do to reduce insect populations and therefore the need for pesticide application.
Creating the most highly trained and skilled technicians through constant and in depth training in all aspects of the industry with a focus on inspection, identification, exclusion, proper use of “Green” pesticides and monitoring.
Reduce the use of toxic rodenticide baits by utilizing new emerging technologies, including monitoring stations, glue boards and traps.

Goal 1 and Tactics

When performing pest prevention services in commercial accounts we will reduce the total amount of pesticides used by eliminating broadcast spraying and significantly reduce the amount of granular insecticides and granular baits applied in a broadcast method. We will utilize crack and crevice methods along with secure, tamper resistant bait stations and monitoring stations. All liquid applications of pesticides will be applied to a specific site and to a specific pest.

We will eliminate the use of all chemicals with a label higher than caution and focus on the use of low risk pesticides and methods that will improve the efficiency of low risk/G.R.A.S. pesticides.

We will install quality assurance measures to track the amount of pesticides used and the methods used also. We will collect this through detailed electronic recording using handheld computers. We will evaluate quarterly and yearly the baselines set in each account and the actual usage and make reductions as necessary.

We will constantly conduct testing and trials on new low risk and G.R.A.S. pesticides as they become available working with manufacturers in creating new and more effective pesticides that are friendly to the environment.

Goal 2 and Tactics

We will utilize the method of exclusionary tactics on all accounts making structural changes to prevent the entry of pest into a structure along with the removal of conducive conditions like water, harborage and food. We will implement programs that will teach the employee's of our clients the steps they need to take to prevent pests and reduce the usage of pesticides. We will instruct them in the biology and life cycles of insects, id, recording, specimen collecting and sanitation. Through this we can work effectively as partners with our clients ensuring the need for excess pesticides is eliminated.

Goal 3 and Tactics

We will commit to and ensure that all of our employees become some of the most highly trained and skilled technicians in the industry. Through constant and advanced technical training in all aspects of the industry with a focus on inspection, id, exclusion, proper use of “Green” pesticides and monitoring we will ensure that our technicians are properly equipped to solve pest management problems without relying solely on pesticides and chemical means. Every technician will be state certified, NPMA Quality Pro Certified, NPMA Quality Pro Schools IPM certified and NPMA Pest Management in Food Plants certified. We have also received a reduced impact certification from our state licensing board certifying our dedication to responsible application and use of pesticides.

Goal 4 and Tactics

We will reduce the use of toxic rodenticide baits by utilizing new emerging technologies, including monitoring stations, glue boards and traps. Rodenticides, if used, must be placed in areas inaccessible or off-limits to people; or, if not, they are:

Placed in a locked, distinctively marked, tamper-resistant container designed specifically for holding baits and constructed of metal or plastic and securely attached to floors, walls, etc. such that the container cannot be picked up and moved
Placed in the baffle-protected feeding chamber of the bait container and not in the runway
- Parafinized or weatherproofed if used in wet areas
- Not used outdoors unless baits/bait containers are inaccessible to children (e.g., baits placed in burrow and burrow closed up after baiting, bait stations placed on building roofs or other inaccessible areas).