Risk management implications from pest control at camp. (Risk Management).Pests create risks to our health, wellness, and enjoyment of the camp experience. Mosquitoes, ticks, lice, fleas, mice, mold, and other pests can cause damage to property, sickness, suffering. and even death. Recently, mosquitoes have contributed to the spread of West Nile Virus West Nile virus, microorganism and the infection resulting from it, which typically produces no symptoms or a flulike condition. The virus is a flavivirus and is related to a number of viruses that cause encephalitis. across the U.S. Other threats from pests may be more familiar. Examples include building damage from termites or toxic mold and illness including Lyme disease Lyme disease, a nonfatal bacterial infection that causes symptoms ranging from fever and headache to a painful swelling of the joints. The first American case of Lyme's characteristic rash was documented in 1970 and the disease was first identified in a cluster at , Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome hantavirus pulmonary syndrome An often fatal RTI caused by a hantavirus; the first cluster occurred in the Four Corners region of Southwestern US Epidemiology Mean age 32, 61% ♀, 72% Native American Case definition Unexplained bilateral interstitial , Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Rocky Mountain spotted fever, infectious disease caused by a rickettsia. The germ is harbored by wild rodents and other animals and is carried by infected ticks that attach themselves to humans. , and rash illnesses. As the West Nile Virus spreads across the country, more municipalities and property owners may be inclined to spray pesticides and herbicides to control mosquitoes. This action may be in addition to other chemicals already being used on the premises to control other pests. While spraying to reduce the risk of West Nile Virus among campers and staff may make sense, the action poses another risk for camp owners to consider. The Camp General Liability Policy Most camp general liability policies have a total pollution exclusion. This endorsement eliminates coverage for "bodily injury" or "property damage," which would not have occurred in whole, or in part, except for the actual, alleged, or threatened discharge, dispersal, seepage, migration, release, or escape of pollutants. "Pollutants" in the general liability policy means "any solid, liquid, gaseous, or thermal irritant ir·ri·tant adj. Causing irritation, especially physical irritation. n. A source of irritation. irritant, n 1. an agent that causes an irritation or stimulation. 2. , or contaminant contaminant /con·tam·i·nant/ (kon-tam´in-int) something that causes contamination. contaminant something that causes contamination. , including smoke, vapor, soot, fumes fumes odorous gases and other volatile materials; inhalation of irritating fumes causes coughing and, if sufficiently severe, irreversible pulmonary edema. , acids, alkalis, chemicals, and waste. Waste includes materials to be recycled, reconditioned re·con·di·tion tr.v. re·con·di·tioned, re·con·di·tion·ing, re·con·di·tions To restore to good condition, especially by repairing, renovating, or rebuilding. , or reclaimed." Under this definition, "bodily injury" or "property damage" from the actual spraying or dispersal of pesticide or herbicide herbicide (hr`bəsīd'), chemical compound that kills plants or inhibits their normal growth. A herbicide in a particular formulation and application can be described as selective or nonselective. by the camp staff to control West Nile Virus, or any other pest for that matter, is probably not covered not covered Health care adjective Referring to a procedure, test or other health service to which a policy holder or insurance beneficiary is not entitled under the terms of the policy or payment system–eg, Medicare. Cf Covered. by the camp general liability policy. In addition, the general liability policy contains exclusions for "bodily injury" or "property damage" that is either expected or intended from the standpoint of the insured. Consequently, it is possible that "bodily injury," in the form of an allergic reaction allergic reaction n. A local or generalized reaction of an organism to internal or external contact with a specific allergen to which the organism has been previously sensitized. from the chemical, could be excluded if the insurance company determines the allergic reaction should have been expected from your standpoint. To sum up briefly, if someone suffers "bodily injury" or "property damage" that is the result of your staff using pesticides and herbicides, your camp general liability insurance most likely provides no insurance protection. If your staff has been applying chemicals to control pests at camp, you have been assuming these risks blindly This represents a significant gap in your risk transfer plan. The issue of whether pesticides and herbicides are truly "safe" to use at camp creates several serious questions: Is it appropriate to assume that if you can buy the chemicals they are safe to use? Aren't the commercial pesticide and herbicide products sold in most stores -- or available through camp vendors -- approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA FDA abbr. Food and Drug Administration FDA, n.pr See Food and Drug Administration. FDA, n.pr the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration. )? If they are, what is the concern? While the chemicals may be tested and approved, are you prepared to rely upon this fact as your sole defense if something happens? The tests the manufacturer and the FDA perform on these various chemicals are not exhaustive and often inconclusive. How often have you discovered that a drug or chemical that you were told was safe for the public was actually -- after a period of time and use -- the cause of injury or illness? Remember DDT DDT or 2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1,1,-trichloroethane, chlorinated hydrocarbon compound used as an insecticide. First introduced during the 1940s, it killed insects that spread disease and feed on crops. ? Do you want to assume the financial risk of paying a "bodily injury" or "property damage" claim out of your own pocket? If you do, then do nothing! How Does Your Risk Management Plan Address the Risks Caused by Pests? Many camp risk management plans address this issue incompletely Sometimes, the pest control pest control n → control m de plagas pest control n → lutte f contre les nuisibles pest control pest n plan is buried in the facility risk management plan, or part of it is in food service, or perhaps in the health center protocols. To maximize efficiency and effectiveness, the risk of illness and property damage from pests should be put into the context of the overall risk management plan. Some camp directors have thought this issue through quite clearly and have adopted a policy about the use of chemicals that has been translated into an environmental statement and risk management plan. The policy controls how herbicide and pesticide chemicals will be used on camp property What Are the Steps in Developing Such a Policy? Start with the risk management process. Identify risks The first step in the process is to identify the illness and property damage risks from pests at your camp. You might hold a "brainstorming" session with your camp nurse, doctor, health department, food service director, head counselor, and other key staff to help identify these risks. The Center for Disease Control has extensive information to help you identify pest related health issues. Visit www.cdc.gov for help in the risk-identification and risk-control steps. Actions to control Once the risks are identified and quantified, actions to control the risks -- avoid, reduce, prevent, transfer, or assume -- can be adopted. As a practical matter, the use of chemicals on people and on property should be limited and be the last choice. If you agree, that means you must take some time to educate yourself about each of the pests and what can be done to avoid, reduce, and prevent the risks in each situation. For example, one way to avoid the risk of West Nile Virus is not to go out at dawn or dusk --times when mosquitoes are most active. This may not be entirely practical at camp. An example of risk reduction is to wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts, whenever possible -- and spray insect repellent insect repellent, substance applied to the skin in order to provide protection against biting insects, primarily mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers, fleas, and certain flies. with DEET on the outside of your clothes. An example of prevention is to limit the number of places available for mosquitoes to lay their eggs by eliminating standing water sources on camp property Obviously, each situation will be different, and you will have to use your judgment accordingly. Risk transfer Risk transfer is also an option for your pest control plan. Insurance coverage may be available in your camp general liability policy for an additional premium. There is a Pesticide or Herbicide Applicator ap·pli·ca·tor n. An instrument for applying something, such as a medication. applicator, n a device for applying medication; usually a slender rod of glass or wood, used with a pledget of cotton on the end. Coverage endorsement available in all states, which would provide coverage for "bodily injury" or "property damage" arising from the intentional act of spraying pesticide or herbicide. The endorsement grants coverage "if all of the standards of any statute, ordinance, regulation, or license requirement of any federal, state, or local government which apply to the operation are met." While this endorsement may be available, your particular underwriter may not be willing to provide it. Or, you may not want to go to the trouble of learning about all of the standards and statutes--and have one of your staff become licensed to apply the chemicals. An alternative to spraying yourself and transferring the risk to your camp general liability insurer is to hire an independent contractor A person who contracts to do work for another person according to his or her own processes and methods; the contractor is not subject to another's control except for what is specified in a mutually binding agreement for a specific job. -- pest control company -- to spray herbicide and pesticide on your premises. By taking this approach, you transfer some of the risk to the pest control operator's insurance. Request an additional insured endorsement from the pest control company's liability insurer, as respects as regards; with regard to; as to. See also: Respect the contractor's ongoing services for you. Under these circumstances, the pest control contractor's insurance should pay first if a claim occurs. However, this should not be assumed. Seek confirmation of how the contractor's insurance applies in this situation. Your insurance agent or broker can help here. Education and Implementation Implementation of your plan can be delegated to department heads and incorporated into their specific risk management plans. You will need to make monitoring of the plan an ongoing task in the risk management process. If you haven't thought about this risk at all -- or even if you have a plan -- take some time before next summer to identify and consider the risks that pests present to health and to property. Educate yourself and your staff about the risks you identify Develop alternatives for managing the risks that work best for your site, organization, and philosophy Get staff participation to ensure a broad perspective and acceptance of the plan. Assign responsibility and implement your plan. Develop a system for finding out how the plan is working and make changes as needed as needed prn. See prn order. to ensure success. Focus on constant improvement. Ed Schirick is president of Schirick and Associates Insurance Brokers in Rock Hill, NewYork, where he specializes in providing risk management advice and in arranging insurance coverage for camps. Schirick is a chartered property casualty underwriter Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) is considered to be the premier professional designation in property-casualty insurance and risk management. The rigorous curriculum includes eight (8) post-secondary undergraduate, or graduate-level courses covering topics such as and a certified insurance counselor In the United States, Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) is an insurance agent professional certification designation. The CIC certification program was started by the National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research in Austin, Texas in 1969. . He can be reached at 845-794-3113. |
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