How Allstate is getting involved

Allstate CEO, Vasili Tsoutouras, values the Forktree Project for their active commitment to restoring local habitats. “We chose Forktree because it is a South Australian organisation. As a proud South Australian family business, everything comes back to where we are, and we ask people to buy from us because we support locals. We want to be as sustainable as we can and have a lot of belief in the Forktree Project because of its direct action through re-wilding and putting things back into the ground.”

Allstate Pest Control has provided the Forktree Project with a number of hand tools, as well as an electric post hole digger which enables the charity to drill holes before planting or putting in posts. 

This has enabled Forktree to both plant trees more easily and install protective shelters in their seed orchard to protect seeds from the wind.

Tim recalls that “In my conversations with Vasili, he has a very sustainability-focused outlook on the world, which you wouldn’t necessarily expect from people in his industry.”

How businesses can contribute

Because each strain of dengue virus causes a unique set of symptoms, doctors use laboratory tests to identify the exact strain of dengue causing the patient’s illness. This helps determine whether the patient needs treatment for dengue fever or another condition.

There is no vaccine available to prevent dengue fever. However, there are several medications used to treat symptoms, including painkillers, anti-nausea drugs, and antibiotics. Some patients may need hospitalization for severe cases.

Although there is no remedy, scientifically proven Dengue vaccine or prevention of dengue fever, there is more than one strategy for dengue prevention and can still be taken will help to prevent and protect against getting infected with dengue fever.

Keep doors and windows closed as much as possible, or invest in insect screens. While keepingdoors and windows closed as much as possible is a good way to prevent mosquitoes and other insects from getting in, this is not always the most practical idea.

Control measures are effective in reducing the incidence of dengue fever. These include larval source management, environmental sanitation, and community participation.

Larvae are the immature form of mosquitoes that live in water. They feed on decaying organic matter and excrete waste materials that provide nutrients for plant growth. Larvae are found in stagnant water sources such as ponds, tanks, and gutters.

Environmental sanitation refers to removing breeding sites of larvae. Environmental sanitation can be achieved through regular cleaning of drains and gutters, emptying of containers holding standing water, removal of rubbish, and covering of open spaces with netting.

Community participation involves educating communities about the importance of preventing breeding sites and encouraging them to participate in cleanups. Community members should be involved in identifying and reporting breeding sites and removing them.

Happy World Pest Day: celebrating the service that protects our way of life

Today most of us would have woken up relatively healthy, or at least free from insect-borne disease. We would have walked through a house that if not clean, was relatively clear of cockroaches and spiders scurrying along the floor and walls. We would open a pantry where packaging was intact and food was safe to eat, or maybe dropped into a cafe for our morning brew where, despite so much food in one place, we weren’t greeted by rats racing across the floor.

Protecting our clean and comfortable way of life is the thousands of pest control technicians dedicated to safeguarding our homes, businesses and health against the impacts of pests.

World Pest Day is our opportunity to look back on the evolutions and inventions in pest control, and celebrate the tens of thousands of pest control technicians who have a role in making our lifestyles possible.

A brief history of pest control

From flies pestering cavemen to rats invading grain stores, pests have troubled humans since the beginning of mankind. The first evidence of chemical pest control was documented relatively later in 2500 B.C., when the Mesopotamians used sulphur to prevent mites and insects invading their crops.

Chinese farmers led the next evolution with several inventions between 1200 and 300 B.C. This included botanical insecticides to treat seeds and prevent fungus, and using predatory ants to remove beetles and caterpillars from their citrus orchards. Another questionable technique they used was a mercury and arsenical compound to control body lice…fortunately modern day pest control is a lot safer!

The Romans also invented several pest control techniques, until the fall of the Roman Empire caused pest control science to go backward, and a great deal of disease outbreaks occur in the process. Most famous of all is the Bubonic Plague, but many other pest-borne diseases decimated Western Europe during the Middle Ages, including tuberculosis, leprosy and smallpox.

When the Renaissance brought science back to the mainstream, it brought many new pest control inventions along with it. People began experimenting with chemicals, herbs and arsenic to repel insects and other pests. This was complemented by mechanical technology, such as a flytrap and fleatrap in the 1700s, and the first lethal mousetrap in the late 1800s.

The first publicly advertised pest control company was founded in London in 1690. Called H. Tiffin and Son Ltd., their trademark was Bug Destroyers to Her Majesty and the Royal Family.

Cleaner, safer and smarter: the evolution of modern-day pest control

Since the second half of the 20th century, we have become more aware of the toxicity of certain chemicals to our health, followed by awareness of our impact on the environment around us. Pest control has followed suit, with industry leaders always looking for cleaner, less impactful and more humane ways to control pests.

With pest control forming such an important part of clean, safe and well functioning businesses, many industry leaders are also on a mission to find the most efficient and least disruptive way to manage pests in these environments.

At Allstate we have been stay at the forefront of these innovations, whether they are AI-powered rat traps or OvoControl as a zero-harm way to remove pest birds.

We’re also proud to have developed several solutions of our own through our PestSense brand, which helps our clients undertake pest control more conveniently and cost-effectively.

For us at Allstate, World Pest Day is an opportunity to reflect on our 37 years of evolution in the pest control industry, celebrate our wonderful team who keep homes and businesses safe, and thank our clients who give us the opportunity to do so.

In order to demonstate that they’re delivering the best service possible, pest exterminators must produce reports showing that they’re operating within national and industrial safety standards.

 When a pest exterminator is able to present all relevant and critical information in a precise and streamlined way, this makes your job as a property manager much easier, especially when auditing time inevitably rolls around.

Reporting systems

Different pest control companies use their own methods to collect and pass on information to their clients. Some use traditional paperwork, while others opt for emails. In recent times, user-friendly online portals and apps have allowed for easier access and security.

Check how different companies choose to present their reporting system, and see how this fits in with the way you like to organise your records.

At Allstate, we store all your pest information securely in one place on our PESTsense Digital Pest Register.

This program allows you to add, view and monitor pest information, including comprehensive job details, Pest Control Service Reports, Risk Management Records and compliance documentation. By having an easy to access online system, we aim to help you save time and maximise convenience.

Compliance documentation

When third party audits inevitably come around, you’ll need to provide correct and up-to-date information to make the process run smoothly and ensure a successful outcome. If these records are easily accessible, you’ll know exactly where to find what you need and avoid scrambling around looking for paperwork.

Through the PESTsense Digital Pest Register, you’ll be able to check that all licenses and Safety Data Sheets remain current at any time. This means that you won’t need to rush to complete paperwork manually in order to meet auditing deadlines, while reducing your workload.

As a property manager, choosing the right pest control service to work with enables you to maintain strong relationships, create trust and instil landlord and tenants’ confidence in your abilities.

With many pest control operators in Adelaide, it can be hard to know which one will suit your needs the best, and you may find that you have better rapport with some.

Along with being able to communicate and work well with them, it’s reassuring to know if they have a good reputation in the community, whether this is through online reviews, a professional looking website or word of mouth recommendations.

To ensure that their work is covered by warranty and that you’re protected if there’s any accidental damage, look for fully licenced, insured, police-checked, industry and Australian standard compliant pest control businesses. Most pest control services have a guarantee for their workmanship, but the time frame can vary.

When it comes to third party auditing, you’ll want to make sure that you have all the relevant information to submit. This is where a company with accurate, streamlined and up-to-date reporting systems and easy-to-access compliance documentation puts you in a better position for a successful outcome.

Since 1986, Allstate has offered highly responsive, effective and flexible service to property managers across of Adelaide. Our aim is to make your job easier by handling all aspects of pest control, from physical and chemical pest services, to providing you with the necessary reports then they’re needed.

We’re happy to chat with you any time to see if we are the right fit for you and your clients.