Service
Technician Orientation
Classroom
training of pest identification and basic biology
Field
training – General Pest Management Service Technicians
Introduction
This document is a review and outline of items Service Technicians need to complete as part of their development in the Company. This document is to be used as a checklist where a technician should be taken through all parts. These items are to be completed for the first time under the guidance of a supervisor unless otherwise stated. The books below have check boxes next to each one to be checked completed once the Service technician has been provided these materials or has been made aware of where they are kept for their reference.
Training would include the passing of the Purdue Home Study Course, which is expected of Service Technicians. Completion of the Purdue Course will provide with the Service Technician with the common knowledge about insect classification. The subject will also be covered by the training sessions and seminars to review and clarify the material.
Service Technicians are expected to complete the homework assignments, read the Purdue Book, and study the material on their own time. In return there is a rewards and recognition program for completion of the course (see employee handbook).
Reference materials provided to Service Technicians
Standard
Operating Procedures for Technicians
Details and procedures for the service are documented in the service technician-training document, which discusses procedures both by pest and site type. Service Technicians would be referring to these documents as a guide to training guide.
NPMA Pest Management Handbook
Purdue textbook: “Pest Control Technology”
State Pesticide Applicator training binder and supplements.
State Pesticide Applicator Category manuals for general pest control and termite control
Other reference materials kept in classroom
Mallis Book: “Handbook of Pest Control
Operations”
Ant identification flash cards
Other entomological references
Service Technician Orientation
Discussion and general review of Employee Handbook Supplement for Service Technicians
Review of this training checklist
Training for paperwork and procedures
Requirements for Cover Sheet completed properly
Requirements for General Service Log Sheets
Requirements for Station Aware Service Log Sheets
Requirements for Multi-Unit Service Log Sheets
How to locate pertinent information on Service Information Sheets
Review of Base Check-In procedures
Classroom training of pest identification and basic biology
Class training would be offered via training seminars, and/or by in house staff. The Purdue Textbook and NPMA handbook will be used as references along with the Company Procedure reference manual
General Training of Arthropod Classification
“Kings Play Chess on Fine Ground Sand”
How spiders and other Chelicerates differ from the Mandibulates
Know the Common Insect Orders
Ants
Differentiating from Termites
Basic body parts and how to classify for identification
Finding and counting the nodes of the pedicel; counting antennal segments; Concept of sizes of the ants
Knowing the flash cards for their identification (ordered 7/01)
Telling a carpenter ant from a field ant.
Identification
General biology
Control/prevention procedures
Review of Flash Card reference
Indian Meal Moths
Identification
General biology
Control/prevention procedures
Silverfish
Identification
General biology
Control/prevention procedures
Occasional invader pests – Ground Beetles, Weevils, Scarabaeid and other beetles
Identification
General biology
Control/prevention procedures
Occasional Invader Pests – Millipedes, centipedes
Identification
General biology
Control/prevention procedures
Occasional Invaders – Small Flies
Midges (chironomidae)
No-See-Ums (Ceratopogonidae)
Mosquitoes (Culicidae)
Fabric Pests – Carpet Beetles
Identification
General biology
Control/prevention procedures
Fabric Pests – Clothes Webbing Moth
Identification
General biology
Control/prevention procedures
Wood Roaches
Wood roaches would be compared to the German cockroach and the Brown Banded cockroach so they could be differentiated. The treatment for wood roaches usually does not include a treatment.
Discussion about the different types of “green house” cockroaches such as the Australian cockroach and Surinam cockroach, and how to tell them apart from the sewer cockroach – the American cockroach.
Identification
General biology
Control/prevention procedures
German Cockroaches
Identification
General biology
Control/prevention procedures
Brown Banded Cockroaches
Identification
General biology
Control/prevention procedures
House Mice Versus Field Mice
Identification
General biology
Control/prevention procedures
Norway
Identification
General biology
Control/prevention procedures
Fly Control – Small Flies indoors
Comparison of the common indoor small flies
Phorid Flies (aka humped-back flies)
Moth Flies (aka drain flies)
Lesser Fruit Fly
Fruit Fly (aka Pomace Fly)
Dark Winged Fungus Gnats and Fungus Gnats
Identification
General biology
Control/prevention procedures
Small flies in food service
Fly control for the small species of flies that can breed in food service accounts has posed many unique challenges over the years. Service Technicians will be shown the difference between the Lesser Fruit fly and Fruit fly. They will also be shown how to identify them from the Phorid fly, and the Moth (Drain) fly. These will also be compared to the Fungus gnats.
Sources and remedies will be discussed.
Fly Control - Larger Flies
Cluster Fly
Blow Fly
House Fly
Identification
General biology
Control/prevention procedures
Servicing a complaint in regards to mystery bites
How to approach the situation
Standard procedures for dealing with the mystery or paper flea bite
Wood Destroying Organisms
Different types of damaged wood would be reviewed with the technicians
Termite damaged wood, including some tougher-to-tell damaged wood
Damage similar to termites but not actually termites, like secondary insects in a rotting piece of wood.
Client Communication and Relations
Asking the right questions to get the most useful information
For example, where the problem is the worst, instead of “everywhere”.
How to deal with irate clients
How to best assure client without leaving unanswered questions
Wasp Control
Comparing paper wasps with yellow jackets
Comparing paper making Vespid wasps to the mud-tubing Sphecidae wasps
Identification
General biology
Control/prevention procedures
Treating an internal wasp nest in a wall or other cavity
Termite Service Technicians
Service Technicians need site training on the different aspects of termite soil treatment, and how, when, and where to drill through concreted to inject the soil for termite control. This will be done with a supervisor / trainer as part of a full termite job that would be done together at least three times before the technician could do the work without direct supervision. The checklist for the service would be reviewed (see Standard Operating Procedures for Technicians).
Field training – General Pest Management Service Technicians
Training on equipment use and care
Stainless Steel Pump Sprayers
Disassembly and re-assembly training, with parts identified
Dealing with the most common clogging issues (see list)
Using accessories including crevice tip
Backpack sprayers for exterior treatments
Mixing oil with the gasoline
Checking spark plug and general troubleshooting
Hands-on sprayer operation and adjustments
50 gallon termite rig for termite technicians only
Review of checklist for termite rig operation
Hands-on operation
Emergency and safety procedures
Training on Vehicle Use
Procedure for oil changing
Procedure for Gas Fill-up
Procedure for emergencies and accidents
Procedure for repairs
Setting Up services
Setting up a StationAware program
for Commercial Building
Setting up a Home Service Program
Setting up and Exterra program on-site
Setting up and outside rodent bait station program with station Anchoring
Wasp Control and the Pole Duster
Using the Pole Duster fully extended and not extended
Filling to proper level, and how to adjust tip for different dust levels and different angles of applications
How to use a pole duster for a ground nest
Wasp Control and Office
Buildings
Identify the window gasket issue and how to seal and treat
What products to use in office settings
Servicing an apartment for mice
How to locate droppings and mouse signs
Setting mouse snap and glue traps discretely yet effectively
Application of tracking powder
Mouse exclusion work with Stuffit copper mesh
How to complete unit treatment sheet for mice
Servicing an apartment with a cockroach problem
Review of areas to inspect for German cockroaches
Application of Borid Dust
Application of Gel bait
Application of insect monitors
How to complete unit treatment sheet for cockroach control
Ant Control Procedures
Setting up liquid ant bait stations
Identifying ant problem in the field like telling field ant from carpenter ant
Identifying areas conducive to carpenter ants
Identifying pavement ant mounds
Termite procedures
Local Treatments
These items include a wood treatment for termite swarmers and workers. It also includes a general assessment for the presence of termites.
Termite surveillance program TERMITE REVEALER service
Service includes checking stakes together and looking for conducive conditions. Suspect or damp wood would be probed to detect the presence of rot, termites or carpenter ants.
Termite Baiting Service
Training on-site will be offered on how to install and service Exterra® termite systems.