WWYD?: Bed Bugs.

[Deleted User] · July 2014

I've mentioned before about my workplace having a bed bug problem. This was discovered about a month ago, and the Orkin pest control people came in and sprayed over 4th of July weekend while we were all on holiday for 3 days. Well this week, more bed bugs have been discovered, so the issue isn't resolved and they're coming back in to spray again.

I'm kind of concerned about inhaling the pesticides, though, and the management team here has been e x t r e m e l y hush-hush about the whole situation. Basically I'm in the know due to word of mouth and whispers across the building amongst reps who've personally seen the little bugs in their cubicles. HR is not addressing the problem, despite knowing about it for a month. So we've all been sitting here at risk of bringing the little critters at home with us, but honestly my primary concern is the chemicals. I'm the only pregnant person in the building (to my knowledge), and since management has been so secretive about all this, the health issue wasn't even addressed to anyone. I went ahead and called the pest control company myself, and they assured me their chemicals are safe to be around 6 hours after the spray, and they're coming in this Saturday to do the whole building so by Monday morning it should be fine.

It still doesn't sit well with me, though! I told my boss (who is in an entirely different state, btw) what's going on with the bed bugs, and asked about the possibility of working from home, but he said that wouldn't be possible at this time. I don't really know what to do. Should I take the Orkin man's word for it about the safety of the pesticides? Should I call my OB and let her know what's going on? Or maybe I'm just overreacting and everything will be okay? Gah.

:-S

MsMacual · July 2014

Ugh! It's a tricky one. So if I'm understanding you, they are treating your building and work space over the weekend and not while you are physically in the building. Correct? I'd check with your state department of health as they might have some additional information on the types of insecticides that are used in this case. I do know that often the only way to get rid of bed bugs is heat (like the seal off the entire space and heat it to some crazy temp). I'm pretty sure that is safe, but I'd be leery of other chemicals. I'd take the opportunity to work from home for a few days, if your boss is willing to make it work.

[Deleted User] · July 2014

I would maybe talk to HR.

My MIL bought a used chair from an antique flea market and brought it home and it ended up having bed bugs. They had to throw out all of their cloth furniture and rip out their carpet to truly get rid of them. They put in wood floors and had to buy new furniture, mattresses, etc. It cost them so much money.

Is your building managed by a third party company, or your company? I'd talk to your company's HR and then go to building management. The pest control shouldn't affect you, but the chance of bringing home bed bugs would be enough for me to bring it up.

pnwlover12 · July 2014

Oh god, I'd probably burn the building down..

archi35 · July 2014

Yeah on the one hand I'm concerned about fumes, but I'd be even more concerned about the bed bugs themselves. I don't trust the one-off spraying and I'd discuss immediately with the health board / county / whomever you can in the local government and then the state gov't.

ETA: I can add that freezing them with liquid nitrogen works too - this is what is done at least in NYC.

Firemanswife11 · July 2014

I wouldn't worry too much about the fumes if you won't be in the building within the time frame they say the fumes shouldn't be inhaled.

I would, however, bring your concerns up to the higher ups simply because, wtf, you're pregnant and you should, at the very least, have some say about whether you want to be exposed to chemicals. I mean, come on.

We just moved and our new home backs up to a field and creek so we're INVADED with friggen bugs. I've checked and rechecked and triple checked the safety of the chemicals they used and I'm basically not supposed to walk around barefoot in the yard. That's kind of difficult since I wear flip flops everywhere. Anyway, we're having our pest control company come out again Friday because spiders are smart as hell and don't die very easily. My entire backyard is infested with spiders. I mean, infested. You can't take a step out there without them jumping everywhere! EWWW.

MrsMac613 · July 2014

My job moved into a brand new building in March and we have been having a bed bug problem for months now. My job also only treats on the weekend so that it is safe for us to be around by the time we come in on Monday. The only thing they do thats not on a weekend is steam a cubicle where a bed bug may have been seen but that doesn't involve chemicals. It sucks but you just have to deal with it. And check you clothing, bags, everything before you leave work everyday because it would be a pain if you took one home with you.

My job has been a little more transparent with the problem however as we also had them in our old building so I guess we are all over the hysteria of it.

[Deleted User] · July 2014

@Firemanswife11‌ Ewwww!!! I hate spiders the most, your story is giving me the heebie-jeebies! :-&

MuffinMom14 · July 2014

Yeah no. I'd be PISSED AS HELL.

From what everyone's saying, it would be less about the chemicals for me than the fact that YOU COULD TAKE THESE THINGS HOME. Then what happens? Let's say you don't know about them (because your company isn't telling you). You take them home. You are embarrassed, so you don't broadcast you have bedbugs at your house. You treat your house. But, your cubicle neighbor also took them home. He may or may not treat his house. You get bed bugs from him and take them home AGAIN.

It seems like a never ending cycle, but then agani, I don't know anything about bed bugs. Are they pretty easy to go back and forth (like lice)?

[Deleted User] · July 2014

@SPurp13 Right, that's part of my concern too. From what I've read they're pretty hard to eliminate, so how long will we be dealing with this issue? Someone's bound to bring them home at some point.

The company sent out an email announcement this afternoon and included a bed bug FAQ sheet and how we can take preventative measures, as well as their plan to exterminate them. So at least they're finally addressing it, but they've known for over a month and this should have been solved back THEN. Blahhhh

Lindzoid · July 2014

I am in the hotel industry so I am knowledgable on this unfortunately. I would say your fine to be in the office days after they spray. However you should make sure that they are coming back, treating the office again and checking for additional infestations. They can go dormant and then come back out.....so treatment once will NOT solve the problem. Hopefully this helps!

[Deleted User] · July 2014

Thank you everyone for the input! You all helped put my mind at ease about the chemicals. Just gotta be vigilant about the buggies now!

cozybluebear · July 2014

Before becoming a SAHM, I worked as a counselor at a residential mental health facility and we often had homeless individuals staying with us. During a routine monthly "bug check" by the exterminator, bed bugs were discovered. By law, all our residents had to be removed from the facility until the problem was taken care of. They explained to us that the only way to get rid of bed bugs is by a special heat treatment. It's very costly and had to be performed at least twice. There are absolutely no sprays or pesticides that will kill bed bugs. They are my biggest fear!

archi35 · July 2014

Lindzoid said:

I am in the hotel industry so I am knowledgable on this unfortunately. I would say your fine to be in the office days after they spray. However you should make sure that they are coming back, treating the office again and checking for additional infestations. They can go dormant and then come back out.....so treatment once will NOT solve the problem. Hopefully this helps!

This - said much more intelligently than I could have

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