Insect issue bugs campus residents
With spring time comes beautiful flowers, warm weather, and sunshine. However, while the sun is out, so are the creepy crawlers.
Yes, we live in the South and of course there is no escaping bugs. However, is there a way to contain these tiny monsters? To answer this, understanding the policies in place may be the key.
USC Aiken’s Trade Specialist, Brian Enter, said, “There’s an O.S.H.A law, which is a code of federal regulations. Our policy is to regularly treat all our facilities for bugs and vermin. Right now, it’s once a month.”
As written, the law says, “Subpart J - General Environmental Controls, which covers vermin control at permanent places of employment in 1910.141(a)(5) and at temporary labor camps in 1910.”
While being able to have the dorms sprayed every month is not a bad thing, certain situations like bad weather or outside work can cause the bug situation to become a creepy crawling catastrophe. The location of the dorms also amplifies the influx of insects.
“The Downs is closer to the woods and we have moved some trees to help mitigate that,” Enter explained. “Or we try to blow the pine straw away. But in the Downs specifically, we spray around the buildings to try and set a perimeter.”
After talking to the school’s trade specialist, the bug problem may seem to have a thorough process for containment. However, the students speak otherwise.
Destinee Bing, a sophomore who lives in Pacer Downs, said, “They’re not really as bad as they use to be, but I still get bitten by ants and I couldn’t figure out why.”
Junior Haley Judge said, “They’re excessive. And maintenance doesn’t do a good job when work orders are put in to spray.”
When asked about the number of complaints on bugs, however, Enter replied, “It’s something that is always being treated by us.”
Though this is an ongoing issue that housing will continue to respond to, is there any way students can keep these pesky bugs away?
“Cleanliness is a big factor,” said Enter. “Also, make sure the doors are completely closed.”
Editor’s Note: In a previous version of this story, the name Brian Enter was mistakenly written as ‘Brian Grover.’ We apologize for the typing error and any confusion it may have caused.
