It’s Still Spring

As the landscape around us continues to be unaware that there is a pandemic that’s changing life as we know it, I was relieved when I read on March 27th that the Arkansas Department of Health said that pest management plays an essential role in protecting the public health by controlling disease vectors, securing our food supply and maintaining our infrastructure.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) identified the pest management area as an essential public work service: workers such as plumbers, electricians, exterminators, and others who provide services that are necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences. I have spoken with several lawn maintenance companies that tell me how they are adapting their crews to ensure social distancing and to stop the spread of the virus, they including starting at different times, limiting the crew per truck to two, and having the employees that can drive to the jobs to do so in their own vehicles. They are also making efforts to minimize the use of shared equipment, and wearing gloves as much as possible, and, wearing a face mask when in close proximity to others. Also, definitely find ways to protect your customers, such as having them pay electronically or by mail rather than in person.

No doubt this will change things in our industry and the way we approach things. Thank you for all the hard work to the crews that are out there every day and especially the ones that are extremely short handed and thank you for your continuing support of the ATA.

Richard Covert

ATA President