HomeMy WebLinkAboutPR 712 FAC - Management of Pests (Including Weeds) Affecting Board PropertyPROCEDURE PR.712.FAC
TITLE:Management of Pests (Including Weeds) Affecting Board
Property
Date issued: 01 October 2024
Last revised:
Authorization:
COMMITMENT TO INDIGENOUS RIGHTS, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND EQUITY
The District recognizes its responsibility to ensure that the development of procedures and the
associated work promotes and protects Indigenous rights, human rights, and equity. The District will
strive to address and eliminate discrimination and structural and systemic barriers for students, staff,
and community.
1.0 RATIONALE
To support the implementation of an Integrated Pest Management Program for all District
premises, including schools, childcare centers and administrative sites.
2.0 DEFINITIONS
Please refer to Appendix A for a list of definitions used in this procedure.
3.0 RESPONSIBILITY
3.1 The General Manager, Facilities, or designate, is responsible for ensuring the pest
management efforts follow the principles and parameters stipulated in this procedure.
3.2 Principals/site managers are responsible for promoting and collaborating in efforts to
control pests in and around their schools/sites.
3.3 Superintendents of Education (SOEs) are responsible for supporting efforts in their
schools to reduce pests and mitigate potential impacts on occupants.
3.4 Employees/workers are responsible for cooperating in efforts to control pests by
adopting / practicing appropriate preventative measures and, as applicable, following
safe work procedures and practices.
4.0 PROCEDURES
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General
4.1 The District has adopted an Integrated Pest Management program,which includes
noxious weeds management,that aligns with its commitment to providing learning and
working environments that are healthy,safe and hygienic for students and staff and to
adopt practices,wherever possible,that are environmentally sustainable and
responsible.
Pest Management (Other Than Weeds)
4.2 To control the presence of pests such as insects or rodents,the District’s approach to
pest management will include:
a)prevention measures such as good housekeeping practices,elimination of damp
and humid areas,immediate removal of waste,applying screens to openings;
b)non-chemical control methods such as baited traps,and glue boards;and
c)the controlled application of chemical interventions by qualified technicians,as
required,such as where prevention and non-chemical control methods have not
been effective in preventing pests.
4.3 The Principals and/or site managers will ensure that building occupants are aware of
and adopting appropriate prevention strategies.
4.4 Notwithstanding reasonable prevention and control efforts,a minimal level of insect
presence in District facilities is inevitable and should be expected.
4.5 Facilities will arrange for schools/sites to be inspected on a regular basis by a qualified
pest control technician to ascertain the presence of any pests.Where pests are
detected,appropriate control and deterrence measures,including the application of mild
pesticides will be identified and documented in a site visit report and provided to the
designated Team Lead.
4.6 Facilities will maintain relevant information such as the product labels for any products
that may be used as part of the Pest Management program and the site visit reports
prepared by pest control providers.This information will be made available upon
request through the appropriate Principal/Site Manager or designate.
4.7 Employees or other occupants or visitors who have concerns regarding the presence or
suspected presence of pests should bring them to the attention of the Principal/Site
Manager or designate,who will share the information with the Chief Custodian,or
custodian,as soon as possible.
4.8 When a specific concern is raised regarding the possible presence of pests or the
presence of conditions that might attract pests,the Principal/Site Manager,or designate,
the Chief Custodian or custodian,the Team Lead and other affected staff occupying the
area will conduct a review to first ascertain what measures could be taken by the
building occupants without outside intervention to deter or prevent pests.The Chief
Custodian or custodian will also ensure the area identified is thoroughly cleaned.
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4.9 If the presence or suspected presence of pests persists,the Chief Custodian will,in
consultation with the principal and Team Lead,submit a work order for pest control
interventions.
4.10 Where a work order is submitted:
a)an authorized Facilities staff member may contact a qualified pest control
company to respond in advance of the next scheduled visit,or,if one is already
scheduled,the work order will be flagged for review at the next scheduled visit by
the pest control contractor;
b)a qualified technician will attend and inspect the school/site to identify the nature
of the pest,the pest population,and the location of the infestation areas within
the building;and
c)the pest control provider will inspect the problem area and give specific
instructions and recommendations to eliminate or control the pest problem.
Interventions that do not require the application or use of chemicals will be used
to the extent reasonably possible.
4.11 If the pest control provider determines that more aggressive interventions are
necessary,
a)they will provide a written recommendation to the Team Manager,Operations,or
designate,setting out the recommended interventions;
b)the Team Manager,Operations,Team Lead,Principal,and the Chief Custodian
will work together to develop a plan to minimize the impact on staff and
students.This may include identifying the most appropriate time for the
application,for example,during periods when the school is unoccupied or at the
end of the day when staff have left the building (depending on the pest control
provider ’s recommendation);
c)only pesticides that have been pre-approved by the Facilities Department for
this purpose will be used;
d)the provider will provide the school with the proper product label before
proceeding with its application;and
e)the principal,in consultation with the Superintendent and Communications,will
develop a strategy and messaging to share appropriate information with relevant
stakeholders.
4.12 Staff working on site should be advised of any planned interventions other than those
which are non-chemical or the administration of pre-approved mild pesticides in
advance of the application.Communications to staff should include the following:
a)a description of the problem;
b)efforts that have been made to date;
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c)a description of any controlled products or chemicals that are going to be used as
well as the timing (generally during non-occupied periods);
d)the locations within the building where the products will be applied;
e)a copy of the product label for any controlled products/chemicals that are going
to be used;and
f)how additional information can be obtained;and
g)The principal/site manager (or designate),in consultation with the
Superintendent,will determine what other communications are required,
considering the nature of the interventions,the timing and location of any
planned application of pesticides,the time of year and what is going on in the
building at the time.
4.13 Following the service visit from the pest control provider facilities will monitor the
effectiveness of the program and make changes as needed.
4.14 If the infestation persists despite implementing actions recommended by the pest
control provider,the Chief Custodian will submit another work order for the pest control
provider to attend the building,further assess the issue to determine whether the
application should be repeated or different methods employed and provide their
recommendations to the Team Lead.The Team Lead,in consultation with the
principal/site manager or designate,and Chief Custodian,will confirm the plan to be
followed.
4.15 The site visit report completed by the pest control provider following any application or
treatment will be sent electronically to the Principal/Site Manager and Chief Custodian.
Noxious Weeds Management (Herbicide Use)
4.16 The District will use non-chemical and organic measures to control weeds on District
properties to the extent possible.Herbicides will only be applied in cases where weeds
present some threat to human health and cannot reasonably be eliminated or controlled
by non-chemical or organic means,including on sports surfaces.This means noxious
weeds such as,poison ivy,poison oak,poison sumac,chokecherry,wild parsnip and
hogweed may need to be addressed utilizing herbicide.
4.17 Where a determination is made that herbicides must be used:
a)they will be applied only by qualified and appropriately licensed applicators;
b)a written recommendation will be provided to the Principal,Team Lead and the
Chief Custodian for discussion on the appropriate strategy;
c)consideration,based on the provider ’s advice and recommendation,will be given
to completing the service when the school property is unoccupied or at the end of
the day when staff have left the building
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d)signage will be posted to indicate treated areas in and around District premises,
including any precautions that need to be taken.
4.18 The principal/site manager or,when school is not in session,the chief custodian or
Team Lead,in consultation with the Superintendent,or designate,will determine what
communications may be required to internal stakeholders such as staff,
parents/guardians,permit holders,considering the time of year,the nature of the
interventions,the planned location of any chemical application relative to occupied
areas and what is going on in the building at the time.
4.19 Safe work procedures,including identification of any necessary personal protective
equipment,will be developed by Facilities,in consultation with Occupational Health and
Safety and shared with the Joint Health and Safety Committee,where a worker,in the
course of their work,is likely to be exposed to noxious weed hazards.The safe work
procedures will be provided to affected workers and reasonable measures taken to
ensure the workers have an adequate understanding of what is required to mitigate the
hazards.
5.0 APPENDICES
Appendix A:Procedure Definitions
Appendix B:Best Practices for Keeping Our Schools Pest-free
6.0 REFERENCE DOCUMENTS
Pest Control Products Act
OCDSB Policy P 058 HS -Occupational Health and Safety
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APPENDIX A:PROCEDURE DEFINITIONS
In this procedure,
Employees refers to all persons who are currently engaged in active employment with
the District,regardless of employment status (e.g.,full-time,part-time,regular,term,and
contract).
District premises refers to the school and District building and all adjacent District
property which is attached to the school or District building,including portables,
playgrounds,parking lots and garden areas.
Herbicide is any product used to control unwanted plants,which is a “pest control
product”as defined by the Pest Control Products Act (Canada).
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)refers to an approach to managing pests that is
more environmentally sensitive,focuses on non-chemical pest prevention strategies
and attempts to minimize the need for pesticides or herbicides except where other
strategies have been determined to be ineffective and/or in extreme cases,as needed.
IPM programs take advantage of all appropriate pest management strategies,including
the judicious use of pesticides.Preventive pesticide application is limited because the
risk of pesticide exposure may outweigh the benefits of control,especially when
non-chemical methods provide the same results.IPM is not a single pest control
method but rather involves integrating multiple control methods based on site
information obtained through:
●inspection;
●monitoring;and
●reports.
Consequently,every IPM program is designed based on the pest prevention goals and
eradication needs of the situation.
Noxious weed refers to a weed or plant that is or can be injurious to human,animals,
natural habitats or ecosystems.
Pest management refers to the reduction of pests or pest numbers to an acceptable
threshold,based on an understanding that the complete eradication of pests is neither
possible nor desirable in all cases..
Pest means an animal,a plant or other organism that is injurious,noxious or
troublesome,whether directly or indirectly,and an injurious,noxious or troublesome
condition or organic function of an animal,a plant or other organism.
Pesticide is a substance used for destroying insects or other organisms,which is a
“pest control product”as defined by the Pest Control Products Act (Canada).
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Pest control provider is a licensed person or company that applies pesticides as a
business (e.g.exterminator);usually describes household services,not agricultural
applications.
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Health and Safety Updated January 2024
Appendix B:Best Practices for Keeping Our Schools Pest-Free
Keeping schools healthy, safe and hygienic is a shared responsibility! The following best
practices are being provided as part of the District’s integrated pest management
program that relies on effective prevention strategies to minimize the presence of pests
in schools:
Classrooms
Generally, classrooms are not especially vulnerable to pests. Most classrooms lack the
conditions pests are looking for. However, there are exceptions. The following are
recommendations for pest management in classrooms:
a) Food in classrooms.
● As a general rule, the fewer places where food is stored and consumed in
a school, the easier it will be to focus pest control efforts.
● If food is kept in classrooms, it must be carefully stored in pest-proof
plastic containers or sealable plastic storage bags (although plastic
storage bags are not effective at deterring some pests, such as mice)..
● Don’t overlook food items such as beans or corn kernels that are not
consumed but are used for games or counting, but still provide a food
source for pests.
● Food preparation areas and serving tables must be thoroughly cleaned
after each use.
● Insect monitors should be installed in any classroom where food is served
on a regular basis;
b) Classroom sinks.
● Cabinets under classroom sinks should be kept free of clutter and
accessible for inspection and pest treatment if necessary.
● Pipes leading into walls should be tightly sealed and should be checked
regularly for leaks;
c) Pets in classrooms. Keeping pets in classrooms may provide valuable learning
opportunities as well as fun for students but can lead to pest infestations if pets
are not properly managed.
● Keep all pet food stored in plastic containers with tight-sealing lids and
make sure to clean up any spilled foods promptly.
● Pet cages and aquariums must be cleaned on a regular basis.
● The areas under, around and behind the pet habitat should be readily
accessible for cleaning and inspection.
● Inspect aquariums regularly to ensure that there is no water leakage;and
d) Clutter and pests go hand-in-hand. The biggest potential pest threat in most
classrooms is clutter. Many pests, including cockroaches, spiders and mice,
thrive in areas cluttered with papers, cardboard boxes and other materials. Pests
gravitate towards cluttered areas because clutter enables them to hide and
reproduce undisturbed.
●Clutter control is essential in classrooms to reduce potential habitats for
pests.
●Keep materials organized and stored in plastic storage boxes with lids if
possible.
●Eliminate cardboard wherever you can.
●Try to store items several inches away from walls so that storage areas
can be easily inspected for pests.
●Used furniture,such as upholstered chairs and sofas,are discouraged as
they can easily become infested.These items must be approved prior to
being brought into the school /workplace.
●Continuously monitor for pests.
●Classrooms with a high potential for pests should be monitored using
sticky traps and mouse monitoring stations.(Examples:home economics
rooms or any classrooms with a history of pest problems).
Staff Rooms
Staff rooms often contain food,water,warmth and plenty of hiding places for pests.
a)Staff rooms,and in particular food preparation and food storage areas,need to
be kept clean and should be monitored to prevent pest infestations.
b)Store all food products in sealed containers.
Kitchens and other food preparation areas
Here are some tips for pest management sanitation in kitchens,concession stands and
other food preparation areas:
a)Put in extra effort to clean hard-to-reach areas;
b)If possible,put heavy equipment on rollers to improve cleaning and inspection;
c)Continuously monitor all food areas for signs of pest activity;
d)Clean floor drains and ventilation screens on a regular basis;
e)Seal gaps around pipes and fixtures to eliminate harborage;
f)Replace any cracked floor or wall tile;
g)Reduce moisture levels and eliminate standing water;
h)Employ good trash management practices;
i)Store all food products in pest-proof containers;
j)Eliminate clutter and reduce cardboard;
k)Keep soda dispensers clean and repair any leaking lines.
Note:In extreme or resistant cases,measures may need to be taken to clean,
declutter and/or remove items from classrooms,staff rooms or other infested
areas.