| BED BUGS ARE NOT JUST IN HOTELS!
They are entering our workplace |
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Bed bugs are entering apartment buildings, clothing stores, office buildings, movie theaters, airline seats, and public transporation! We can find them on our clothes, purses, backpacks...
Such bugs pose an interesting challenge for company management as there are legal and insurance ramifications, not to mention employee relations issues given the stigma that goes with such infestations.
Bed bugs travel human to human and require human blood to survive. The cities with the highest incidences reported are New York, Philadelphia, Detroit, Cincinnati and Chicago according to a recent Terminix Survey(shrm 9/28/10 article).
Encourage employees to report possibility of infestations at home and at work. Should an employee be one that you believe to be a carrier, an employer may ask them to stay home until the time the problem is resolved. Paying for such time off is not required and is up to the employer.
The employer liability seems to be related to care for bites from such bugs where an employee/client sues.. an employer may also have to pay for damage caused by the spread of the bugs to their home.
BE SURE TO HAVE A RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR DEALING WITH BED BUG INFESTATIONS!
TIPS FOR CONTROLLING BED BUG INFESTATIONS (Environmental Protection Agency) |
| 1. Ensure the bugs are indeed bed bugs and not fleas, ticks or other insects. Verifying the insect can be accomplished by going to the EPA website under pesticides/bedbugs
2. Eliminating bed bugs is difficult but not impossible. Although many people want to throw their belongings out that may not be the most practical approach. Most items can be treated and saved!
3. Hire a professional!
4. Reduce options for hiding places, such as cluttered areas
5. Wash and heat dry bed linens, bed spreads and clothing that touches the floor; also such bugs are found in hampers and laundry containers so be sure to wash those when you do your laundry
6. Vacuum rugs, floors, under beds, around bed legs, bed frames and all cracks crevices around a room...ALSO vacuum all upholstered furniture. Toss the bags after each use, put it in a plastic bag sealed tightly and remove it from the house/ office etc
7. Clean all common areas such as hallways, lobbies, kitchens, public bathrooms...daily
8. Check for infestations often!
9. Inspect all deliveries that come into your home or business. |
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Bed bugs have been found in many places. It is important to be reminded of your fussiest hygiene practices as a first defense against spreading them....
It is becoming epidemic so we can't be too careful to ensure our workplaces are regularly cleaned in a special way to avoid infestation. It is also important to inform staff of these important considerations to minimize infestations!!
Enjoy the long weekend!!! Jeannine |
