Wow!  There is no doubt at all that the 27th Convention was a complete success!  With more than 500 delegates, is it any wonder that AEPMA had to close off registrations because it was sold out?  Much of that success was entirely due to all the diligent preparation work put into it by the team at AEPMA National Office, ably backed by the FAOPMA Administration. 

Following registration, the Welcome Reception (sponsored by Syngenta) was held at the Dolphin Beach Lagoon and we got to see Sea World’s amazing Dolphin Show “Affinity”, which is an unforgettable experience with one of the world’s most intriguing animals.    

The Gala Dinner (sponsored by BASF) on Thursday 15th promised to be a spectacular night and an event not to be missed.  It was a true promise!  Always a popular event, AEPMA had gone the extra mile for a truly memorable evening, holding the dinner at McLaren’s Landing on South Stradbroke Island!  However, on perhaps the one occasion when it should not have rained, it did – and it certainly DID!

Click here to read more

This in turn caused hesitation.  If the size of the problem was so relatively small, less than 1% of the workforce, shouldn’t there be some other solution?  Perhaps leave, or leave without pay, could be examined.  However none of these options delivered certainty, and the business volumes in one particular locality continued to decline.

The management knew instinctively that making one employee redundant in a company that size would look suspiciously like a set-up – a ruse to get rid of someone.  Redeployment options were examined too, but nothing arose from that either.  So FIR was called in to examine the case before any actions were taken, to see if the situation met the pub test – would the company be skewered by an unfair dismissal claim if they went ahead with the redundancy?

A regulatory proposal will be released for consultation in early 2017.  

If AEPMA members have any matters that should be raised, please send them to info@aepma.com.au by 13 October 2016.  AEPMA will collate responses to and send them to DEDJTR.

Click here to see current regulations

The Pest Manager of the Year Award aims to promote professionalism of the pest management industry to the public and other stakeholders.  It secondly highlights the pest management industry to the public and thirdly encourages learning and increased professionalism of the pest management industry.

From Dr Chris Orton, Secretary PMITAG NSW

Dear Colleagues,

I’m circulating at the request of Dr Bhoopathy Sankaran of SafeWork NSW (formerly WorkCover NSW), further information about GHS - the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals which comes into full effect on January 1 2017.

I commend to your particular attention the attachment ‘2 GHS What you need to know’. It contains a good overview of what is happening.  Some of the other attachments are not particularly relevant to urban pest management but some of you may want to know of their existence.

Chris Orton 
Secretary, PMITAG NSW
(Urban Pest Management Industry Training Advisory Group NSW)

To view the relevant information, click on the links below:
GHS Poster
GHS What you need to know
GHS Ready Six Steps 8150
Are you GHS Ready?
Rural Chemical Factsheet
Organophosphate Pesticides Factsheet
Reducing Exposure to Diesel Emissions
Working in the agricultural industry with chemicals

There’s been a lot of ill-informed speculation about how pre-construction soil chemicals are affected after the Building Code’s grace period. The grace period, which allows reference to the year 2000 versions of the termite management Standards AS 3660.1 & AS 3660.3, ends after April 2017.  The problems are not so much with the wording of the Standard, the features & faults of which we’ve known about for several years, but the way the ABCB have then called this document into the Building Code of Australia   (BCA). 

The changes to the Standards were signed-off by AEPMA who have two representatives on the drafting committee. 

Click here to read more

For our Victorian members, a two-hour barefoot bowls session will be taking place on Friday 4th November, 2016 commencing at 7.00pm at:-

Fitzroy Victoria Bowling & Sports Club
578 Brunswick Street
North Fitzroy 3068
Ph: (03) 9481 3137

At this stage, there is only availability for 20 members.

There will be finger foods provided by Ensystex. 

Drinks to be purchased on the night.

Please RSVP no later than Friday 7th October to Tommy Stewart (bugs@aaapestcontrol.com.au) for what will, I am sure, be a fun evening.

Just a reminder that daylight saving comes into operation in Vic, NSW, SA and Tas on Sunday 2 October 2016.

This leaves WA three hours behind and Queensland one hour behind the rest of the country.

Rollins, Inc. (NYSE: ROL), a premier global consumer and commercial services company, announced today that it has acquired Scientific Pest Management, which provides pest control service throughout Australia through owned, franchise and partner companies.  This acquisition gives Rollins brands nationwide Australian coverage.

Scientific Pest Management was founded in 1974 and operated by Chris Jones. With more than 50 employees, the company offers commercial pest control and termite services, specializing in large contracts.

The company will continue to operate as Scientific Pest Management, and will work closely with Allpest, Statewide and Murray to deliver services to key customer relationships throughout Australia.

Source Rollins, Inc

Next month the AEPMA WA Golf Day will be held at Collier Park Golf Club on 21 October 2016 with an 8.30am start.

The golf day is always a great opportunity for the industry to mingle on a social basis and catch up with old friends.

The day consists of 18 holes of golf - “carts included” - which includes a drinks cart to keep players hydrated.  This will be followed by lunch at a venue still to be confirmed.

The day is always well supported and enjoyed by all. The WA council would like to thank all sponsors for their continued support.  

For further details and to register – Click here.

AEPMA welcomes any contributions or suggestions for articles that you feel are relevant to the industry. Simply forward to info@aepma.com.au.

Or do you have something to say about an article you’ve read in the Newsletter? Why not leave your feedback on our Facebook page.

• Proactive Fumigation Course, Toowoomba – 10-14 October, 2016
• NSW State Meeting 17 October 2016
• WA Golf Day - 21 October 2016
• Bare Foot Bowls Victoria 4th November 2016