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NAME: |
David Pinniger |
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D.O.B: |
21/07/43 |
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EMAIL: |
david@pinniger.globalnet.co.uk
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The
Interview: |
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Please
describe your professional background. |
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I am an entomologist providing independent consultancy and training on pest management. I started as an infestation advisor with MAFF in Liverpool and Hull and then moved to the MAFF Central Science Laboratory in Slough. I worked on developing new methods of insect control and detection and ran a research group until 1996 when I left the lab to run my own consultancy business. I now advise museums, historic properties and local authorities. I am the pest management strategy adviser for English Heritage and many of the major UK museums such as the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Science Museum.
I train staff on problems of insect pests in public health, food and museum collections and I am an Honorary Lecturer at Leicester University. I have written over 30 papers and publications on a range of pest control topics including the book "Pest management in Museums Archives and Historic Houses" which has just been published by Archetype. |
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How
did you first come to be involved in pest control? |
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I started as a MAFF inspector checking imported food in the Liverpool docks in the 1960's. After moving to Hull I then inspected ships, farms, food processing plants, prisons and hospitals. |
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What
is your favourite aspect of the pest control industry? |
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You are always learning new things and there are new insect pests to find out about and deal with. |
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Least
favourite aspect of the pest control industry? |
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The pressure on PCO's to make money and sell clients unnecessary treatments is lowering standards. I am really concerned that although there are individual exceptions, the level of training and expertise of staff and the quality of service and advice to customers has really declined in the industry over the last few years. |
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What
is the biggest challenge you have faced in your career? |
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Being self-employed and running my own business after many years working for a government agency. After 5 years, I can confidently say it was the best move I ever made.
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What
advice would you give to anyone thinking of a career in pest
control? |
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Learn as much as possible about pest management and apply it with common sense. If you don't know the answer to a question, don't bull$h!t, but take the time to find out. Try to keep your integrity and try not to lower your standards. Find an employer who values your knowledge and practicality.
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What
motivates and drives you? |
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After 35 years of working with them, I am still fascinated by insects. There are still interesting problems to sort out and exciting things to learn. Most of my clients are very nice people to work with and value and act on my advice. |
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Do
you have any remaining or unfulfilled ambitions? What are
they? |
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I would like to contribute to a book on Urban Pest Management and apply what I have learned about communicating IPM to the heritage industry to other areas of pest control. |
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Has
the industry changed much during your career? How? |
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Yes, the tools have got much better and are now far safer and more targeted. However, their application sometimes leaves a lot to be desired. See item 6. |
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Describe
an amusing pest control anecdote. |
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An inspector was checking rice on a ship in Huskisson Dock in Liverpool. He found a heavy infestation of saw-toothed grain beetle and recommended that the rice be fumigated with methyl bromide in the quayside warehouse. He was a new enthusiastic inspector who wanted to show off his new entomological knowledge and so he used the beetle's Latin name of Oryzaephilus surinamensis in his report. Later that afternoon he received a phone call from Huskisson dock to say that the dockers on the boat had all gone on strike because of his report and he had to go and sort it out immediately. On arrival at the quayside he was met by a gang of agitated dockers who knew him simply as the "bug man". When he told them that there was nothing to worry about in the hold except a few beetles, the spokesman replied "Him and the lads were not going down in the hold and risk catching a dose of the Oriental syphilis" ! |
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