Texas Structural Pest Control Board Inspection Checklist

Is your school ready for your routine inspection from the Structural Pest Control Board (SPCB)?

Jason McMillin of ABC Pest and Lawn, Dallas, TX who until recently worked for the SPCB, has given some guidelines of what to look for and expect from a school IPM inspection.  This handout is designed as a tool to help you, the School IPM Coordinator, prepare for your routine inspection. 

Integrated Pest Management became law in September 1995 for all Texas public school districts.  The Structural Pest Control Board of Texas was given the obligation of developing regulations, education and enforcement policies.   In the early years of this law, SPCB focused on compliance assistance rather than strict enforcement.  Beginning in 2001, however, the agency determined to tighten enforcement and fines for schools not in compliance with provisions of the Structural Pest Control Act.  The Structural Pest Control Board has two investigators who focus on School IPM, Jeff Isler, working in the North Texas area, and Lita Kiplin, working out of the Austin Area.

The Structural Pest Control Board still provides compliance assistance on IPM; however, the time to request assistance is not when they show up for an inspection of your program.  Should you feel that your district requires help to implement IPM, contact the Board to schedule an appointment for a review of your program, or the Southwest Technical Resource Center to seek help and guidance in your IPM program.

School IPM Inspection Checklist:

·        Do you have an IPM Policy Statement on file and approved by the school board? (Model IPM Policy Statement)

·        Do you have an IPM Plan? (optional, but recommended)

·        IPM Coordinator with attendance certificate from approved class, obtained within 6 months of appointment.

·        Parent/Guardian notification – in student handbook or as a handout given to students at beginning of school year.

·        Are all applications of pesticides done by licensed personnel only?

·        Do you have a central file containing copies of all chemical application records?

·        Do you have a central file containing copies of justification/approval for all Yellow and Red list chemicals?

·        Do you have a central file containing copies of pesticide label and MSDS sheets for all used chemicals?

·        Are notification of pest control posted by 48 hours prior to all indoor treatments? Is the 12 hour re-entry rule followed and documented?

·        Can you document your districts use of non-pesticide pest control measures? (optional, but recommend)

·        Can you show licenses and up-to-date CEU records for all in-house personnel who apply pesticides?

·        Are all chemicals stored out of reach of children?

·        Can you show observation logs in every school, or other procedures for keeping track of pest sightings?

·        Can the IPM Coordinator show a list of needed building or maintenance improvements to enhance the program? (optional, but recommended)

Integrated Pest Management: Laws and Regulation Overview

By Jason E. McMillin, Technical Director ABC Pest and Lawn DFW