For over two years, SafeGuard 24/7 served as the exclusive pest control provider for London & Middlesex Community Housing (LMCH). During this time, the company committed serious violations involving the misuse of pesticides, potentially endangering residents, including the elderly, sick, and children.
Forbidden Pesticide Misused in Tenant Kitchens
Violations involving the insecticide “Konk 409 Flying Insect Killer”. The pesticide is strictly forbidden for use:
- Inside dwellings.
- Around elderly or sick individuals.
- In areas occupied by children.
- Near food preparation surfaces or utensils unless surfaces are covered or thoroughly washed afterward.
Despite these restrictions, SafeGuard 24/7 allegedly used Konk 409 inappropriately:
- Improper Application: The pesticide was removed from its original applicator.
- Unsafe Environments: It was sprayed in apartment units significantly smaller than the minimum 170 cubic meters specified for safe use (some less than 70 cubic meters).
- Poor Ventilation: Treated areas were not adequately ventilated as required.
Housing Authority Alerted, Warnings Ignored
Emails obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request reveal that LMCH was directly notified by a provincial inspector about the illegal pesticide use. The inspector explicitly instructed LMCH to:
- Notify tenants whose units had been sprayed.
- Advise tenants that affected surfaces needed to be washed.
- Provide a required reply to the Ministry.
According to the provided information, LMCH ignored these directives from the Ministry.
Other Serious Infractions
SafeGuard 24/7 was cited for several additional violations, including:
- General misuse of pesticides.
- Providing insufficient information on re-entry notices (or failing to provide them at all when legally required).
- Employing an insufficiently licensed employee.
Unknown Health Risks for Tenants
Because SafeGuard 24/7 allegedly removed the pesticide from its original container and used it in improperly ventilated spaces far smaller than the mandated minimum size, it is impossible to determine the exact level of pesticide exposure tenants endured. Compounding the concern, at least one active ingredient in Konk 409 is identified as a potential carcinogen. The contractor failed to notify any tenants about the use of this pesticide in their kitchens.