| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Iain |
Posted - 18 Feb 2007 : 10:23:43
This is a topic that is regularly raised whilst discussing other issues - so let's have it all out in the open, once and for all.
My contention is that the licencing of pest controllers in the UK is simply not going to happen. Period.
In Australia and the USA PCOs are licenced, but then termites are a significant problem in these countries. If the value of the nation's housing stock is in the hands of an industry, then it makes sense to regulate and licence that industry. Pest control is a much more important service to building owners (voters) there than it is here.
What killed this issue for me was a meeting of insect pheromone manufacturers I attended a couple of years ago. We had a guest speaker from the Cabinet Office. A Civil Servant working at the heart of Government Policy. He waxed long and lyrical about one of the central planks of current Government Policy - deregulation. He claimed that the Government could save huge sums of money - billions of �sterling - by deregulating just about everything. Deregulation and a move to self-regulation of just about every industry going. It was only going to be those industries that really, really needed Government control that were to be regulated in future.
So where does that leave our industry?
It will not matter one jot how much we might all want licencing in our industry, it will simply be seen by the 'Powers That Be' as a waste of tax-payer's money.
If we want to raise standards in our industry, we are going to have to do it ourselves.
What say you?
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| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| NickA |
Posted - 23 Feb 2007 : 08:56:19
Why not recruit staff from college, go for top notch recruits?
Too expensive I hear the cry,I should think the biggest and best investment a company can make is in its people(Staff), surely well trained,motivated, happy staff is going to send out a positive statement.
Do you send your staff to seminars, trade shows or do you just go yourself?
From our Suppliers, manufacturers is it the same staff that go to shows here and abroad.
Really invest in your staff, you might even make more profit long term.
Pests are smart - We're smarter
www.rpcwildlife.co.uk |
| nigel |
Posted - 23 Feb 2007 : 08:17:54
See chinese whispers again, people not reading threads and replying accordingly, I did not mention servicing, that was dreamed up by Adrain, I said work on your car.
This actually happened at my LA, it came to our attention when drivers of a vehicle were suffering headaches after driving it. Turned out an apprentice had cross threaded an injector and diesel was being pumped out on to the exhast manifold and the fumes filling the cab. The LA discovered that they had been charged top prices for work being done by apprentices and had been stung for thousands of pounds using this scam.
So even letting the new boys loose on even basic work has its consequencies if they are not up to the job but for our customers the out come can be fines or closure.
As for where you recruit your staff thats your choice, but as a customer, who is being charged the same hourly rate as one of your bluechip customers, whether the work is basic or not, I would want what I am paying for. I have noticed this at some properties, where a company is carrying out work at a large manufacturer who is obviously paying a large price for the service does seem to get a far better job done than the pub down the road, who has the same technician, yet does not even get advice on proofing.
To me a customers is a customer, the level of service is not dictated by how much they pay me, it is the same standard for everyone. |
| Iain |
Posted - 23 Feb 2007 : 08:08:34
Blimey,
You turn your back for a couple of days and people are calling for the Moderators!
There are in fact 4 Moderators plus 1 Editor who have the job of 'policing' you lot.
I certainly don't don't spend all my time on here as I have a full-time job that often takes me out and about around the country, frequently requiring overnight stays where I don't have internet access.
That's my excuse. What about the other Moderators? Hello, hello .... is there anyone else out there? 
So, gentlemen - in the land of Self-Regulation, perhaps we should consider the concept of Self-Moderation.... 
Many frequent posters are always professional in their postings and my hat off to them.
Others, sadly, do let themselves down from time to time and, although I personally know them to be totally professional in their jobs, are sometimes less than professional on here.
Is there a 'red mist' that descends from time to time? In a passionate debate, sometimes point scoring seems to take over - or is it just the after-dinner 'refreshment' that kicks in? 
...and no - I'm not taking a pop at any one individual. There are several in this string that have let things slip a bit - in my opinion.
So please - keep the passion, but don't get personal - you end up with egg on your own face. 
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| Dusty |
Posted - 23 Feb 2007 : 02:42:26
We might have to train monkeys Blatta.
I can see no problem in recruiting from the ranks of the disenchanted. In fact, although I no longer train pesties as I prefer to be a solo operator, when I did recruit, I always avoided those with pest control experience. I prefer them to learn and adopt my bad habits rather than me have to retrain them
Don't feed them, get Rid of them - visit us on www.ridpest.com.au |
| blatta |
Posted - 22 Feb 2007 : 16:07:24
quote:
Do companies who then launch only basic trained staff loose on to customers, then charge their customers less for the privalage of letting under qualified staff learn the job possibly at the customers expence?
If I took a car to a garage would I be happy to be charged �75 per hour for the apprentice to work on it or the skilled machanic?
Companies do not charge customers less if they are sending relatively new staff out to them, the simple sites that they are sent to service are often on for a lower price anyway for the reason that they are simple to service.
To continue with your analogy, if my car was being sent to a garage to have a basic service (eg an oil and filter change) I would not expect to have their most experienced staff dealing with my vehicle. If however the car was having a major service or had big problems I would expect a more experienced member of staff to be involved.
It is a question of common sense and deploying your skill base wisely.
and from an earlier post Nigel;
If companies stopped taking people from other trades and training them as PCO's then where do you propose we do get new staff from? |
| Bob Staines |
Posted - 22 Feb 2007 : 14:28:36
lovin this thread. it shows the passion we all have for the job we love.
passionate people with different views and beliefs, come on !
personally i think the LA's give us all the image we have as ratcatcher. some maybe o.k but its the image of council staff in general that is the problem. i have often said i wouldnt have the council out to cut my grass, even if it was free. ouch!
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| Dusty |
Posted - 22 Feb 2007 : 09:22:31
Adrain, perhaps our interpretation of "For Professional Use Only" may be somewhat different than the legal and intended definition.
I totally agree with you on this subject.Not just the poms, but yanks and we from the colonies are also haunted with the same problem.
I had a wonderful browse of a local produce and pesticide retail establishment today, and the amount of chemical available to the public is huge. Massive cartons of rodent bait (somewhere around 40 kg)and not a bait station in sight.
It seems there is nothing illegal about selling it to the public, and posibly the same in UK
Nothing to learning the guitar, provided you start around 10 years of age.I funded myself through university as a musician.
Ask me to strip a mini? ho ho frigging ho! You would have spare parts left over when it went back together. Spark plugs and points and changing brake pads ok,anything else would end up costing me serious money from the stuff up.
Don't feed them, get Rid of them - visit us on www.ridpest.com.au |
| ABPest |
Posted - 21 Feb 2007 : 22:23:30
Nigel would be proud of me ...... it was a COUNCIL garage wall !! |
| NickA |
Posted - 21 Feb 2007 : 21:55:46
But you started on Minis at an early age Adrian.
Demolition of garage walls as well. Fred Dibnah of Hull.
Me I can't woodwork to save my life, but drop a tree with chainsaw onto a spot .. no problem.
Weld used to.Take an Ford Escort to bits, put it back together Yes, and it would run with no spare bits left.
Seen some excellent cabinet making by craftsmen, envious of their skill.
Gifted or talented amateurs are around, but most do it on the cheap.
Pests are smart - We're smarter
www.rpcwildlife.co.uk |
| ABPest |
Posted - 21 Feb 2007 : 21:38:25
I decorate the house, inside and out. I do most of the repairs on my house, I do most of my small plumbing jobs, I garden, erect fences, made a garden gate, pressure wash the paths and patio, I can take a mini to pieces and put it together again, including engine and gearbox ( done it 3 times now). I can even wire my hi-fi up, and there are many pieces. I can build model railways ( sad I know ). I have re-fitted most of my kitchen. I will be re-laying my drive soon.
I do a better job than many so called tradesmen. It just takes me longer. And I have never had any training in any of the above. I follow the manuals.
I have been on a welding course, and I can weld 2 small pieces of nice fresh metal together, but I don't fancy trying to repair rotten metal on a car.
See, I know my limitations. My one great sadness is that I cannot teach myself to play the guitar!
Many people are the same, I am nothing special. Many people are capable of carrying out their own pest control, lets not get carried away. But it shouldn't be with professional use pesticides.
And of course there will always be exceptions to the norm.
Adrian. |
| nigel |
Posted - 21 Feb 2007 : 21:19:36
Despite being qualified to service HGV vehicles myself (you would truely be amazed at what courses I have been on Adrian), I never service the car or van, I always take them to the same garage and the boss does it, there are no trainees. A bit expensive, I know, but well worth it. Never been let down by them in 15 years.
Last summer I recieved a number of phone calls from blokes who were trying to start out in the business, they were not looking for a job, just advice on training.
They all said the same thing, they had been on a training course run by a company and were alarmed that they had actually been taught very little in the way of pest control and more in the art of selling sevices and this shocked them and wanted to know if it was right. Well what can you tell someone who has had that as an introduction to the industry!!!!!
As for DIY pest control, a customer I went to today got the shock of her life when I showed her that the bait she had been putting down for days in her garage was actually being carried by the mice and I found about a 1lb of it in the bedding of the rabbit hutch.
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| Editor |
Posted - 21 Feb 2007 : 20:51:52
quote:
Originally posted by Dusty
Sorry folks, I deleted the previous posts as it became duplicated when adding the quote option.
Wit is one thing, same as expressing an opinion that is contrary to that held by another.
Direct insults (known as flaming) on message boards is another.
Failure to rein in open insults will be an indication that this is now acceptable.
I stand by what I have said, and direct insults, no matter to who, should not be acceptable.
If the moderator shares your view, impose a holiday on me too.
I will cheerfully the referees decision for any penalty imposed on me.
Don't feed them, get Rid of them - visit us on www.ridpest.com.au
We all prefer it when the referee isn't required!
I think that the readers tend to judge us all by the posts we make and whether or not they are a positive contribution. Let's try to keep it positive eh?
Editor - www.pestcontrolportal.com |
| NickA |
Posted - 21 Feb 2007 : 20:51:30
Adrian,I had that as a nice diagram on computer, but being old I've lost it or deleted it.
Think it is a good path for any association to use.
Fairly clear how to progress, whether uni courses and advanced courses should be able to slot in.
Does it have any faults, why isn't it more widely known.
Your old career very expensive, why should pest control be done on the cheap.
Pests are smart - We're smarter
www.rpcwildlife.co.uk |
| Dog-rat |
Posted - 21 Feb 2007 : 20:43:06
I am vary wary about Licensing as you know But :-
As we know many products which are clearly labeled for �Professional Use only� are sold
quite freely at Agricultural merchants throughout the country. Not that they ever ask but
how can the seller assess in any way if the purchaser is a �Professional�
There should be some recognized way of telling, if only that the manufacturer of said
product runs training days in order for people to be able to buy their product.
As a thought do manufacturers when selling on to the �Supplier� really make them aware
it is for �Professional Use� Only ? or is it just lets sell it to anyone who will buy it ?
Even one recognized �Safe use of pesticides� course would be a start.
But I suppose having seen for myself bags of Townex stuffed inside Tamper resistant
boxes placed in a hotel kitchen we will never stop those cowboys that are out to make a
quick buck or two, no matter what happens. |
| ABPest |
Posted - 21 Feb 2007 : 20:41:39
Gosh it's getting confusing !
Nick the career path that the BPCA highlights is more or less the same as we have discussed and agreed on as best for the industry. I don't think it mentions the advanced course though, does it?
We do need a career path for pesties to follow, without a doubt. But it could be expensive, OK if you work for an LA or larger company.
Adrian. |
| ABPest |
Posted - 21 Feb 2007 : 20:34:05
To get back to the original thread.....
Nigel, in a reply to Blatta you mentioned about mechanics servicing your vehicle. Not a good comparison. Mechanics are a rarity these days, they have been replaced by less qualified fitters. And in any case do you really know who has serviced your vehicle?
Again servicing of vehicles is something many of us do ourselves.
Pest control is some thing many house holders are capable of doing in their own homes, but shouold not be with professional only products.
Lets not get ahead of ourselves, although I am not against licensing,
we have a long way to go to prove we are professionals, doing a professional job, You only have to peruse these threads to see the lack of professionalism.. We are not doctors, surgeons etc we practise pest management. Lets keep our feet on the ground.
Adrian.
Now lets start another debate.
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| Dusty |
Posted - 21 Feb 2007 : 20:31:28
Sorry folks, I deleted the previous posts as it became duplicated when adding the quote option.
Wit is one thing, same as expressing an opinion that is contrary to that held by another.
Direct insults (known as flaming) on message boards is another.
Failure to rein in open insults will be an indication that this is now acceptable.
I stand by what I have said, and direct insults, no matter to who, should not be acceptable.
If the moderator shares your view, impose a holiday on me too.
I will cheerfully the referees decision for any penalty imposed on me.
Don't feed them, get Rid of them - visit us on www.ridpest.com.au |
| NickA |
Posted - 21 Feb 2007 : 20:30:44
quote:
Originally posted by andyb
No don't ban Nick he's not that bad! LOL
ANDY B
Quality from UKPCO Founding Father
Pests are smart - We're smarter
www.rpcwildlife.co.uk |
| NickA |
Posted - 21 Feb 2007 : 20:29:29
Good career path shown on BPCA
http://www.bpca.org.uk/index.asp?slevel=0z14z16&parent;_id=16
Pests are smart - We're smarter
www.rpcwildlife.co.uk |
| andyb |
Posted - 21 Feb 2007 : 20:27:14
No don't ban Nick he's not that bad! LOL
ANDY B |
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