FAQ

What are pests?

Pests are living things, which are harmful to humans. Some of the pests are also called “vectors” as they transmit diseases and cause public health concerns.

Why are they pests?

They are pests as their presence causes:

• Annoyance / Nuisance

• Contravention of legislations

• Damages

• Diseases

• Fear

• Loss of goodwill

How can I prevent a pest problem?

You can ensure:

• Proper sanitation and housekeeping.

• Correct defective engineering / architectural design to prevent pest entry and harbourage.

• Treatment by licensed and certified pest management professionals.

If I notice some pest activity (e.g. rats, cockroaches, mosquitoes, insects), what should I do?

These are the common vectors (i.e. rats, cockroaches, mosquitoes, flies and fleas that are capable of transmitting diseases) you should alert the people who are responsible for managing these pests to have them eliminated quickly and safely, without harming the environment. If you are responsible for this role and need professional help, we suggest that you contact a reliable pest management company immediately. If these are not vectors and you can live with their presence, please leave them alone. Remember we have to share our planet Earth with other living things.

Are high-rise buildings safe from pests?

Unfortunately, no. Pests are extremely adaptable. Cockroaches, house ants and flying insects are still found in many high-rise apartments. Mosquitoes have been found in flats 20 storeys up; rats have been known to damage wires 25 floors up; and even termites can make their way to the 42nd storey. The way high-rise apartments are built explains how pests can gain access. Boxed-in pipe runs, concealed ducts for service conduits, false ceilings, rubbish chutes and built-in cabinets all provide well-concealed highways for cockroaches, rats, ants and termites.

Should I treat my apartment when my neighbor doesn’t treat his?

It depends on the pest involved. A termite inspection and treatment contract for an individual unit is usually useful. Though there is no way to prevent termites from moving up the service conduits (unless soil treatment or preventive treatment has been commissioned by the developer or management corporation) the contract can do much to protect you. It will provide for regular inspections, and if termites are present, prompt treatment and extermination. A rodent management contract will involve the placement of baiting stations within your premises, whilst a cockroach spray treatment alongside all walls will help to reduce rampant cockroach movements in your premises. Thus, a pest management contract within your own apartment unit is still extremely useful but can be further enhanced if the common areas are also treated.

Do we have to vacate the premises when treatment is carried out?

No, a pest management job is usually a simple procedure. In most cases, you don’t even need to move out at all. Only when insecticidal gassing or misting is involved it becomes necessary to move out, and that is for just a few hours.

Are all the chemicals that are going to be used on my premises for vector control approved by the National Environment Agency (NEA)?

Only chemicals approved by NEA should be used for vector management services.

What is fumigation?

Fumigation involves the use of a poisonous gas (eg. Methyl Bromide), and as such, it involves stringent safety requirements. The fumigator must be licensed by the National Environment Agency (NEA). Any other form of chemical treatment is not fumigation. (eg. thermal fogging, misting, spraying, etc.)

Are pest management field staff qualified?

In Singapore, all vector management field staff are required to be licensed or certified by the National Environment Agency (NEA).

How do I go about selecting a pest management company?

As a trade association, we recommend that you select any SPMA Members listed on our website. You may wish to call up more than one company and select the one that you are comfortable with based on how they respond to your queries, their track record, the service they offer and, of course, their price.

Would a pest management company be able to respond to my pest problem on the phone?

Dealing with pests requires professional expertise and help cannot be effectively rendered without a site survey or inspection. Simply put, a doctor will never be able to attend to a person’s illness without first seeing the patient. Similarly, to get the best professional help on pests, it would be prudent to select a Pest Management Company to investigate the problem, identify the pest then agree to the method and cost of treatment before the service is rendered.

Credit & Source: SPMA