A
Bed Bug Management Policy
for Accommodation Providers
Click
on the front cover below to download
the Bed
Bug Management Policy & Procedural Guide
for Accommodation Providers
Preface
to the First Edition
This
Bed Bug Management Policy and Procedural Guide was initially
developed to assist community housing groups who were experiencing
recurrent bed bug problems. However, this document can aid any
organisation within the accommodation sector, be it the hospitality
industry, student and staff lodgings, and/or public housing.
To minimise
the potential for bed bugs and to reduce the risk of potential
litigation, those in the accommodation sector should attempt
to demonstrate 'due diligence'. 'Due diligence' is the ability
to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that everything possible
was done to prevent a certain act. For accommodation providers,
this would be to minimise the risk of bed bugs and ensuring
that management strategies were promptly implemented once an
infestation was detected. Having a bed bug policy and procedural
guide in place and following it, would assist in the demonstration
of 'Due Diligence'. A bed bug management policy and procedural
gudie will ensure that the proper management processes are undertaken,
which will increase the likelihood of a successful treatment,
reduce the risk of bed bugs spreading over the long term, save
money and potentially decrease the risks of litigation.
It is
important to note that not all sections of this document will
be applicable to every organisation and thus some degree of
individual tailoring will be required.
This
document has been developed from "A Code of Practice for
the Control of Bed Bug Infestations in Australia" (CoP)
and, as such, is regularly referenced from within this document.
The CoP should be consulted for greater detail on bed bug management
and is available as a free download from www.bedbug.org.au.
The
key areas within a bed bug management policy include; defining
responsibilities, education, documentation, occupational health
and safety, eradication processes, bed bug prevention, and handling
the media.
This
policy and procedure guide is a living document and was developed
from a draft initially released for public comment in 2010.
Any suggestions to further improve this document should be sent
to: Stephen Doggett, c/o Department of Medical Entomology, Westmead
Hospital, PO Box 533, Wentworthville NSW 2145, or email: stephen.doggett@swahs.health.nsw.gov.au.
Stephen
Doggett
September 2011
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