As you may be aware, AEPMA has been working on two new Codes of Practice on termite management: one that deals with termite management during construction, the other for termite management of existing buildings. After much consultation with technical experts from across the industry, these Codes are finally completed and will be released on the AEPMA website in early November 2017.
A new feature of these Codes is that AEPMA has sought and recently been granted authorisation by the ACCC. What does this mean for pest managers?
The Codes set out industry standards of conduct. They are guidelines for fair dealing between pest managers and their customers and they outline what a customer can expect from a pest management company when he or she agrees to engage its services.
The ACCC recognised that by abiding by the standards set out in the Codes, pest managers who chose to be bound by the Codes were also required to meet specific levels of practical experience and education in termite management practices in order to become signatories to the Codes.
AEPMA has recently written to all members asking if they would be interested in becoming signatories to these new Codes. The Codes are voluntary and any pest manager (member or non-member) who signs up to them will have a valuable point of difference with which to market their business. Unlike Standards Australia, the Codes are freely available to customers and provide a transparent dispute resolution process for both pest managers and their clients, if necessary. Pest Managers who undertake work under the Codes of Practice will also be listed on the AEPMA website.
AEPMA continues to drive this movement forward and is working on other Codes of Practice, specifically a Code of Practice in Rodent Control, which is due for release shortly, and a Code of Practice for Training in the Pest Management Industry.