Perfume lawsuit could affect exterminators

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Ask The Bugman - Fagerlund

Perfume lawsuit could affect exterminators

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/05/HOVP14GSK1.DTL

Fagerlund

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Q: There was an article on the Internet about someone suing someone else for wearing perfume to work. I am in the pest-control business and I can anticipate a lot of problems with the ruling. What are your thoughts?

A: I absolutely agree. The case in question can be found at sfgate.com/ZFOF.

Anyone who applies pesticides in a public building without warning the potential occupants of the building is opening themselves up to a similar suit. If you can get sued for perfume, imagine what will happen if pesticides are involved. I don't know what the laws are regarding pesticide notification in California, but it certainly would benefit any pest-control operator to notify building occupants before applying chemicals.

The plaintiff in the lawsuit has chemical sensitivities. This is a real problem that affects many people. Whatever the outcome of the perfume case, it will probably only be a matter of time before a pest-control operator is involved in a similar suit.

Fagerlund is a pest management specialist who promotes nontoxic methods of pest control. His DVD, "Do-It- Yourself Pest Management for Home/Business," shows how to use the products he recommends to control cockroaches, ants, pantry moths, mice, bed bugs and other household pests. For information about the video or to contact him, see his Web site, www.askthebugman.com.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/06/HOVP14GSK1.DTL

This article appeared on page F - 3 of the San Francisco Chronicle