Untrained pest-control staff ‘putting lives of Abu Dhabi residents at risk’

Mohammed Hanif says he has been in the pest control business for eight years and knows how to use chemicals. Ravindranath K / The National

ABU DHABI // Poorly trained pest-control staff and the use of ineffective chemicals are failing to rid residents’ homes of insects and other vermin, it has been claimed.

Residents in Abu Dhabi said they had seen pest controllers spray toxins near food and other breaches of safety standards.

Gopalan Vijayaragavan, an Indian who lives in Abu Dhabi, said he had paid a company Dh1,000 already this year to eradicate cockroaches in his apartment, but the infestation remained.

After reports of fatalities caused by the use of banned toxic substances, he believed pest controllers may be scared of using powerful enough chemicals.

“I believe they are afraid of using the right chemicals professionally because they are not trained,” he said.

He said workers had sprayed the chemicals around, even though there was food out in his apartment.

“They are so careless. The foodstuff is there and they start spraying,” he said. “Now if anything wrong happens it is the responsibility of the resident.”

Aboobker Mohammed Ansar, an Indian who lives in Abu Dhabi, said he also had bad experiences with pest controllers.

“It’s surprising that untrained workers carry out the most responsible and serious job, which could be fatal – many people have died due to the bad use of pesticides,” he said. “I believe they feel afraid of using strong chemicals because they are not trained for that and use only substandard substances, which can’t even scare insects.”

Last year, the Abu Dhabi Court of First Instance found a pest control company owner guilty of causing the death of a woman and ordered him to pay Dh30,000 on the manslaughter charge, Dh100,000 in blood money and Dh100,000 from his company because his staff had failed to follow proper procedures in handling pesticides.

Last year, a three-week-old Syrian boy died after the wrong pesticide was used, while in 2014 a Filipino girl died in Dubai.

In 2013, three people died and two fell seriously in Ajman after a company used unlicensed pesticides. In 2011, a man was killed in Dubai, and in 2012, 10 people were treated in hospital in Dubai, while in 2010, two boys were killed in Ajman and their sister fell very sick.

Motiul Haque, a Pakistani, also felt he had been duped by pest control companies.

“Sometimes they ask for shampoo or detergent to mix with the chemical. I don’t understand why they ask us. They should bring whatever is required for spraying,” he said. “It clearly signals they are not doing the job seriously and just cheating residents.”

The companies, however, claimed they were using the correct chemicals and had given their staff sufficient training.

Mohammed Hanif, from Al Ibdaa Pest Control and Cleaning company in Abu Dhabi, said: “I have been in the business for over five years. I know how to use the chemicals and we use it properly and our company is approved by the concerned authorities.

Ahmed, who gave his first name only, manager at Al Hisin Pest Control and Cleaning in Abu Dhabi, said: “We use spray and German gel – both are very effective.”

The Centre of Waste Management (Tadweer) in Abu Dhabi did not reply to questions.