Instructions
Read this
section before
completing the
Integrated Pest
Management
Checklist.
Background Information for
Integrated Pest Management
Checklist
OFFICIAL POLICY
STATEMENT
Developing an official policy statement
for integrated pest management (IPM)
provides a useful first step in changing
from a conventional pesticide program
to an IPM program. A policy statement
goes beyond simply stating a
commitment to support and implement
an IPM approach. It also provides
guidance on how to incorporate the IPM
program into existing services,
education, record keeping, notification,
and pesticide storage and purchases. See
Appendix B: "Developing Indoor Air
Policies" in the IAQ Coordinator's
Guide and EPA's Pest Control in the
School Environment: Adopting
Integrated Pest Management1 for sample
IPM policy statements.
DESIGNATING PEST
MANAGEMENT ROLES
Determine the respective roles of
everyone affected by the IPM program to
ensure its success.
• Designate a pest manager who will
observe and evaluate each site after
receiving pest management training.
The pest manager decides what needs
to be done and directs others to take
the necessary actions to prevent and
resolve pest problems.
• Involve decision makers in the IPM
program. These people may need to
authorize the program, and they will
definitely control the money for IPM
projects.
• Encourage students and staff (the
occupants of the building) to be
responsible for cleaning up their areas
(for example, cleaning up food
leftovers and paper clutter, keeping
food out of lockers, and removing
gum from underneath desks).
• Educate parents about IPM practices
in schools and homes. Parents also
need to be aware of current pest
management practices in their
children's schools and, when
appropriate, should share their
knowledge of and experience with
pest management with the school.
• Ensure that pest management
professionals (PMPs) incorporate
IPM into their contract language and
work.
SETTING PEST
MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES
Set appropriate pest management
objectives for school buildings and
outdoor sites. Tailor objectives for each
situation. Objectives for indoor sites may
include:
• Protecting children's health (from pest
problems and excessive or
unnecessary pesticide applications).
• Maintaining the integrity of building
structures.
• Eliminating injury to students and
staff.
• Preventing interference with the
learning environment of students.
Objectives for outdoor sites may
include:
• Providing the best possible turf in
athletic fields.
• Ensuring safe play areas.
lPest Control in the School Environment: Adopting Integrated Pest Management. (August 1993)
Prepared by U.S. EPA. EPA 735-F-93-012. To order, call NSCEP at 1-800-490-9198.
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INSPECTING, IDENTIFYING,
AND MONITORING
An IPM program consists of a cycle:
inspect, identify, monitor, evaluate, and
choose the appropriate management
methods. After inspecting the school for
signs of pests, accurately identifying the
type of pests and their location,
monitoring to determine the extent of the
problem, and evaluating the situation,
choose an effective management
method. To ensure the method is
successful, routinely monitor the areas
for evidence of pests, potential pest
habitats, and size of the current
population. The information obtained
through routine monitoring can be used
to evaluate current prevention measures
and to determine if modifications are
necessary.
SETTING ACTION
THRESHOLDS
Although the presence of a certain
number of pests may be tolerable, when
the population exceeds the set threshold,
take action. The pest manager and
occupants of the building should work
together to set a threshold when pest
control becomes necessary. It is
important to consider the needs of
sensitive individuals when establishing a
threshold and to use all available data
obtained through inspecting, identifying,
and monitoring.
PREVENTIVE STRATEGIES
Preventive measures are an essential
component of IPM programs to reduce
the need for pesticide applications.
Strategies exist for both indoor and
outdoor sites.
Indoor Strategies
• Install or repair screens in windows.
• Caulk and seal openings in walls.
• Clean lockers and desks routinely.
• Keep areas as dry as possible (for
example, remove standing water and
water-damaged or wet materials
immediately).
• Store food and waste in containers
with tight lids.
• Rotate stored foods to remove the
older items first.
• Wash lunch areas and kitchen floor
frequently.
• Place screens on floor drains.
• Repair leaks and plumbing problems
promptly.
• Empty standing buckets of water.
• Allow food only in designated areas.
• Clean trash cans regularly and use
plastic liners.
• Keep school pets and pet cages clean.
• Eliminate clutter by removing excess
paper, packaging, and boxes from
classrooms and storage areas.
Outdoor Strategies
• Clean trash containers and gutters
regularly.
• Store trash away from doors.
• Repair cracks in pavement and
sidewalks.
• Provide adequate drainage away from
building structures.
• Select a mixture of turf types (such as
certified seed, sod, or plugs) that are
best adapted for the area.
• Raise the mowing height to enhance
the turf's competitiveness against
weeds.
• Apply fertilizer appropriately, avoid
excessive fertilizer, and use with
aeration techniques.
• Prune branches of ornamental shrubs
and trees to prevent access by pests.
• Select plant material from disease-
resistant types of ornamental shrubs
and trees.
Refer to Pest Control in the School
Environment: Adopting Integrated Pest
Management for a complete description
of indoor and outdoor sites and strategies
for pest prevention.
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PESTICIDE USE AND
STORAGE
When the use of pesticides is necessary,
apply them judiciously. Encourage PMPs
and school staff to choose the least toxic
chemicals available as well as the most
effective and efficient application
techniques. Avoid dust and spray
formulations if possible; baits, traps, or
granules are the preferred formulations.
Never treat rooms when children are
present; schedule applications after
hours or on weekends. Minimize
pesticide exposure to occupants by
storing pesticides in areas that are locked
and inaccessible to undesignated
personnel or are located offsite. Ensure
that storage areas have adequate
ventilation and flammable liquids are
stored away from ignition sources. The
school should notify staff, students, and
parents of impending pesticide
applications through posted notices or
letters. Be prepared to provide more
specific information to concerned
individuals.
EVALUATING RESULTS AND
RECORD-KEEPING
Accurate records of pest activity
monitoring and pest management are
critical to a successful IPM program.
Record-keeping allows schools to
evaluate the results of IPM practices and
to determine if they are meeting their
pest management objectives. Schools
should maintain an accurate pest
management log for each building in
addition to records that fulfill state,
school board, and local requirements.
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