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 biopesticides and certain lower-risk pesticides are authorized inside or outside daycares and schools. Other pesticides may be authorized for specific problems, but only when applied, under certain conditions, by a pest management or green space maintenance company.

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 establishment hours;
• Wait at least 12 or 24 hours before allowing activities to resume in treated locations, depending on the pesticide applied and the establishment concerned;
• 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.