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Bed Bugs: Preventive steps for staff and tenants
Information and education are vital to preventing an infestation of bed bugs or to catching it quickly. A proactive and open dialogue about bed bugs will help to reduce the stigma that surrounds an infestation and encourage tenants to be vigilant in inspecting their unit and to notify staff of potential concerns.
There are some quick and easy habits that can help staff and tenants to prevent and identify potential infestations.
For tenants
- While curbside finds such a furniture and household objects can be tempting, there may be a reason that they have been discarded. Since bed bugs often infest soft, upholstered furniture like couches and chairs and can live in the joints of things like tables. Tenant should be given this information and be encouraged to avoid bringing discarded furniture and other items into the home.
- If members of the household notice unusual bites on their skin or stains on their bed sheets that could be blood, they should inspect the mattress and bed frame for small rust brown or black stains. If they find stains or bedbugs, or suspect that they have an infestation, encourage them to notify the property manager or their staff immediately so that an inspection can be completed.
- If the unit has a bed bug infestation, tenants should be instructed not to remove furniture without first wrapping it in plastic and marking it as infested. Taking furniture through the common areas, like hallways and elevators, unwrapped will spread the infestation and make it more difficult to treat.
- Clear away clutter! Bed bugs can hide in small cracks and crevices so tenants should be encouraged to clean their unit, particularly around where they sleep. Items that you would like to keep should be sealed in boxes for a set period of time or left out to be treated depending on your pest control operator's instructions.
For staff
- Staff that enter tenants' units should be aware of where they set down possessions, such as bags and coats, and should inspect items once they have left tenants' units.
- The non-profit should develop and circulate a bed bug policy that
identifies:
- how and to whom tenants should identify potential infestations;
- the level and type of support available to tenants in preparing their units; and,
- whether or not and when the non-profit will compensate staff that develop bed bug infestations at home that may have come from their work at the non-profit.
- Develop a list of community resources that can assist tenants that may need support preparing their units for treatment.
The following are sample materials from ONPHA and from other members that may assist staff to prevent the spread of bed bugs in their portfolio. If your organization has information and / or resources that you think others might find helpful, please contact Management Support.
Click here for more Bed Bug Resources from ONPHA.
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