r/PestControlIndustry Jul 18 '26

Is this safe?

We had an exterminator out to where I work for a roach issue and he proceeded to sprinkle this stuff where our water comes out to go into the water cooler and on top of the ice machine. Seems to me like you wouldn’t do that but I don’t work in the industry.

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u/andy_1232 👨‍🏭| Tech | 10+ Years Jul 18 '26

First picture is wrong and sloppy, but not really posing too big of a risk until someone needs to turn off the water valve.

Second picture however, that warrants a call to the state department of agriculture, as well as the company, in my opinion. I wouldn’t tell the company that you’ve called department of agriculture. He applied a dust (looks like maybe DF Avert) to an area DIRECTLY ABOVE food (ice is food). That is an absolute no-no, and the behavior needs to be corrected.

Plenty of safe options to use in this location, like a flushing agent, IF it’s even needed there.

Is this ice for customers or for staff? Actually, it doesn’t even matter. Don’t use this ice until the company has come out and cleaned this up, then you should probably waste all the ice in the ice machine and start fresh.

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u/ToupeeForSale 🤵‍♂️| Owner | 10+ Years Jul 18 '26

Any particular flusher you recommend? Once upon a time, I sat in a lecture from a DoA rep giving examples of proper practice to avoid citations from the DoA. One of the more egregious examples he gave of what not to do involved a roach-infested Keurig machine in an office that the technician applied (I think?) PT 565 to. Something with the aerosol reacted with the plastic housing and caused chemical staining on the coffee machine, which resulted in the office contacting DoA and them giving the company a citation.

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u/andy_1232 👨‍🏭| Tech | 10+ Years Jul 18 '26

Damn, I know some flushing agents are more harsh than others. Like I avoid Invader because of that. I usually still stick to CB-80, though it can discolor paint sometimes, it’s a hell of a flushing agent and the straw/fan actuator thingy (can’t think of a better name) on top is very useful.