What is an EPA Certified Applicator? And why YOU should never hire a company without one.

How well you maintain your roof appearance is what is seen at first glance, regarding your home's accumulated value and aesthetic glow. Although moss appears pretty harmless, it can do some real damage when left to its own devices.

So, when it comes to getting rid of moss, let professional cleaning services take the reins with an EPA-certified applicator. This certification ensures the applicator is knowledgeable about safe and effective pesticide use—including those used for moss removal.

In this blog post, we'll discuss why it is important to hire a moss removal company with an EPA certified applicator, the problems associated with someone uncertified, and what it means to be certified through the EPA and DEC.

Why You Need To Hire a Company with an EPA Certified Applicator

Experience and Competence

An EPA certified applicator has completed, at a minimum, intense training and testing to guarantee that the safe and effective use of pesticides is understood. Certification in essence tells a person that he or she has gained knowledge on how to deal with hazardous chemicals safely, determine proper dosages, application techniques, and appropriate safety precautions.

By hiring an EPA-certified applicator, you're guaranteed to have the moss removal process carried out by a professional who is well-versed in best practices within the industry. Protecting your home and surrounding areas, which in Alaska are full of life.

Environmental Protection

The EPA certification focuses on environmental protection. A certified applicator learns how to apply all pesticides in a way which least affects the environment, avoiding non-target plants, animals, and water of any sort. Hence, by hiring a certified applicator, you would protect your local Alaskan ecosystem.

Compliance with Regulations

Regulations ensure that the moss removal process is done based on the laid-down legal standards, thus minimizing the risk of penalties and other legal frictions. Pesticides are potentially dangerous chemicals that can only be handled by individuals trained in their application.

The company should be certified by the EPA under its state guidelines and in some instances should ensure that its applicators and technicians hold pest control licenses from the respective state. A certified company is more likely to dispose of pesticide containers as well as residues in approved ways, which helps in the protection of the environment further and ensures public health.

The Dangers of Hiring an Uncertified Company

Risk of Wrong Pesticide Application

Applicators without certification shall not be fully equipped with the minimum knowledge and training required in pesticide usage. This could in turn lead to over-application and under-application which are risky.

Over-application can lead to toxic runoffs polluting water sources, harming wildlife, and injuring plants. On the other hand, under-application may not be effective in retarding the growth of moss and thus would necessitate several re-treatments.

Health Hazards

Improper handling and application of pesticides by people other than certified ones may pose severe health risks to human beings and pets. Pesticide exposure can result in problems ranging from minor skin and eye irritation to serious respiratory problems and even poisonings.

Certified applicators are trained concerning various precautions to be taken while using pesticides, including protective equipment such as masks, gloves, and protective eye gear that will help prevent some of these serious risks.

Damage to Property

Applicators who are not certified often have the wrong techniques and dosages that result in good moss removal, leaving your roof and other parts of the property damaged or not adequately treated. High-pressure washing, for example, can erode shingles and void your roof warranty. This could prove extremely costly in terms of repair and leave your investment unprotected.

Businesses that are using uncertified applicators are likely not adhering to industry standards and best practices. An absence of professionalism will lead to poor service with no accountability for these companies. Certified applicators, however, will be held to higher standards and as such are much more likely to provide quality service and correct relevant issues.

So How Important is an EPA Certification?

EPA certification is a comprehensive and rigorous program that pesticide applicators must pass in order to assure that they are both knowledgeable and competent. This requires the completion of rigorous training and testing in a wide array of pesticide use subjects, including:

1. Pesticide Formulation and Labeling

Pesticide applicators who have gotten certification for the program undergo training on the pesticide labels containing very important information that enables a user to apply the product safely and effectively. This includes understanding active ingredients, application rates, and safety precautions.

2. Application Techniques

Proper application techniques are indispensable in ascertaining that pesticides are utilized effectively and safely. A certified applicator has experience with the different application methods, such as spraying, dusting, and baiting, and learns how to properly select which method to use given the situation.

3. Safety and Health

One of the main concentrations of EPA certification is the protection of the applicator, the public, and the environment. Proper use of PPE, first-aid measures in case of exposure, techniques to minimize risk to nontarget organisms, and the environment are some of the things a certified applicator will learn.

4. Environmental Impact

Certified applicators are educated with the potential environmental effects of pesticides and the measures to minimize the occurrence of such. This includes principles of integrated pest management, also known as IPM, which means prior resort to non-chemical methods, judicious choice of pesticides whenever it is necessary, and proper application.

Understanding Alaska DEC Standards (Category 7)

On its part, the Alaska Department of Conservation has divided pesticide applicator certification into categories according to various uses of pesticides. Category 7, in particular, deals with controlling pests in structures and health-related settings. Now, this best fits the moss removal services. Here is what Category 7 breaks down to:

1. Structural Pest Control:

This subcategory addresses the control of those pests infesting buildings and other structures but not necessarily causing structural damage. This could include moss removal, techniques for treating roofs and exterior surfaces properly without damaging structural elements.

2. Public Health Pest Control:

This section of Category 7, therefore, applies to those pests that could cause public health to be threatened. Moss is not of itself a problem but damp and decaying conditions so created can be inviting to insect and rodent infestations, therefore bringing with them possible health issues. These accredited applicators, therefore, are oriented to deal with those secondary aspects as well.

3. Pesticide Safety and Handling:

Category 7 certified applicators need to be competent in the safe handling and application of pesticides used for moss control while knowing the hazards associated with the use of pesticides and protection measures to be undertaken in safeguarding themselves, the public, and the environment.

4. Legal and Regulatory Compliance:

Category 7 certification ensures that the applicator shall understand and comply with all applicable laws and regulations governing pesticide uses in Alaska. These compliances keep one out of legal issues and ensure all pesticide applications are done safely and in a responsible manner.

Go with a PRO, choose The Moss Busters of Alaska

That's where hiring a moss removal company with an EPA certified applicator makes all the difference. Such certified applicators are well-trained professionals who have a lot of experience in applying pesticides safely and in compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal regulations.

Accidents associated with pesticide use can be minimized by certified applicators who afford protection for property and the environment. Unlicensed ones, however, pose great risks: improper application of pesticides, health risks, damages to property, and no one to be held liable.

The EPA certification, in particular, under the Alaska DEC standards, for Category 7, ensures that the applicator is adequately trained in the safe and effective control of structural pests. This shall include the following major areas of competence: pesticide formulation and labeling, methods of application, safety and health, and impact on the environment.

Moss removal can be a risky business to your health, property, and the environment. Only deal with a company that has EPA certified applicators; this ensures the best standards of Safety and Effectiveness. This way, you will have a moss-free roof with peace of mind, knowing it is done right.