The Greater New York Chapter of IFMA, International Facility Management Association
About the Chapter
IFMAGNY Past Events
Pest Control, Going Green - a Protector of Public Health Code
On September 26th, the International Facility Management Association of NY (IFMAGNY) had a luncheon presentation at the OFS Showroom on Pest Control by Arthur M. Katz of Knockout Pest Control, an NY metro area leader in commercial pest management since 1975. Knockout Pest Control provides safe, modern control methods of the highest quality, which are also environmentally friendly. Mr. Katz pointed out some government regulations that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation regulates and enforces.
Mr. Katz talked about the improved and most modern technology for controlling and managing pests such as termites, rodents, and birds. He stressed that there is a difference between controlling and eliminating pests, and what was most important is that their products are very environmentally green-conscious. Moreover, he stressed the importance of having trained and certified technicians to determine and install the right product for your commercial property.
Mr. Katz stated that his company has been awarded the “Quality Pro” designation by the National Pest Management Association. Less than 1% of the pest management companies nationally have this distinction. He reported that the “Quality Pro” designation requires standards for hiring employees, training, environmental stewardship, and much more.
Knockout Pest Control is a leader in controlling termites with bait technology using the Sentricon Termite Colony Elimination System. The Sentricon System received the first Presidential Green Challenge Award. Now using bait technology and glue traps, less chemicals are used, and other products have low toxicity levels. One of their newest bait products, MaxForce for flies, is a liquid mixed with water that one sprays in the windows and the flies start to fall and die.
With rodent traps, Mr. Katz talked about ways to disguise and conceal the baits from residents and tenants, using such strategies as boxes and garbage pails with false bottoms. Furthermore, he stated that the most effective places to place these traps are storage rooms, soda machines, corners and drains.
Knockout Pest Control has also devised ways to keep nuisance birds from ruining property and resulting in millions of dollars in damage, and clean up costs without harming them, using behavior modification. Methods like spikes to protect ledges, keep birds off by not allowing them to land. There is also netting that can be fitted to buildings, and that blend well into the background so one can hardly see it is there.
Lastly Mr. Katz emphasized to the audience the importance of identifying the pests, good sanitation, structural modification, exclusion, and non-chemical control, as steps in proper pest management.
By Gabriela de Oliveira of Global Arch, LLC & Liz Arauz Chang of Thinkspace NY- IFMAGNY PR Committee Chairs.