Pesticide application in daycares and schools

Children have special vulnerability to the adverse effects of pesticides, due to their physiology and behaviour. One example: They tend to put things in their mouths. For this reason, additional precautions are needed when treating daycares and elementary and secondary schools with pesticides.

If pesticides are to be used, the following is required first:

• The pest has been identified;
• Preventive measures have been implemented.

Two options are available once the decision has been taken on the use of pesticides:

• Hire a green space maintenance or pest management company;
• Apply the pesticide yourself.

Only selected, less dangerous pesticides are authorized for use inside of or nearby daycares and schools. Other pesticides may be authorized for specific problems, but only when applied by a pest management or green space maintenance company: Specific conditions apply. If needed, check the pesticide application decision tree for daycares and schools (PDF 7.91 Mb).

If you decide to apply a pesticide yourself, check the brand names of pesticides authorized for use in daycares and schools , then:

• Apply the pesticide outside of school hours;
• Wait at least 8 hours before allowing activities to resume in treated locations;
• Fully comply with the instructions on the pesticide label.

If the application of the product does not resolve the problem, call a pesticide specialist. In the case of specific problems, pest management and green space maintenance companies may be able to apply other pesticides, subject to conditions.