Rentokil Pest Control technicians have become the first in the UK to pass the new Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) Safe Use of Rodenticides qualification.
The qualification ensures the safest and most effective use of second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) and meets the strict requirements of the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU) stewardship scheme.
It is mandatory for professional pest control technicians to hold an approved qualification in the use of rodenticides before SGARs can be applied. While Rentokil already covers this in its comprehensive Level 1 training (taken by all technicians) candidates are put through the rigours of the RSPH qualification as an additional part of their extensive tuition.
Paul Blackhurst, Head of Technical Training Academy, Rentokil Pest Control, comments: “It has been recognised that the preventative use of anticoagulant rodenticides has resulted in the poisoning of non-target animals both by:
- Primary poisoning (direct consumption of the bait by none pest species) or by
- Secondary poisoning (predatory animals killing or scavenging animals that have consumed the bait).
As a professional organisation, Rentokil has a duty to ensure that all of our front line staff appreciates the risks these professional products pose to wildlife and are able to apply this understanding to help reduce the risks posed to non-target animals.
In adapting our existing training to incorporate this qualification, we aim to achieve RSPH certification for all technicians as we take great pride in our position as industry forerunners. Ensuring our technicians are qualified and adhere to latest legislation is a crucial part of our commitment to provide the highest quality services to our customers in the UK.”
PestConnect is an innovative connected pest management system, providing 24/7 remote monitoring and immediate control of rodent pests, using non-toxic and highly targeted treatments that reduce the rodenticide impact on UK wildlife. Delivering your business maximum protection against pests, with the minimum of onsite visits and disruption. Our connected rodent control solutions are sustainable and compliant with UK legislation and regulations, including Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU).