Home Visitors

Guidelines for Home Visitors (.pdf)

All employees who visit clients in their homes or apartment units are strongly encouraged to abide by the following guidelines. While these guidelines specifically mention bed bugs, they may also apply to other types of insects or pests.

It is recommended that all employees who conduct home visits attend bed bug training. Training should include: identification of bed bugs; awareness of where bed bugs can hide; how to conduct a self-inspection; containment and isolation procedures; and, procedures for controlling bed bugs should a problem exist.

Bed Bug Containment Kit

Employees visiting residences that may have a bed bug infestation should maintain a bed bug containment and isolation kit.

The containment kit should contain the following items:

• A plastic tote box (Rubbermaid or equivalent)
• Protective booties and disposable coveralls (Tyvek, or equivalent)
• A roll of Duct Tape (white or light colored)
• A roll of clear plastic drum liners (garbage bags for 50 gal. drums)
• A few plastic grocery bags for storage of smaller miscellaneous items
• Flashlight
• Narrow bladed spatula (such as a ¾” – 1” wide icing spatula)
• Disposable gloves
• Wet wipes (i.e., Wet Ones®, or equivalent)
• Plastic clipboard
• A simple stool or folding metal chair
• A fanny-pack to contain personal items (wallet or cell phone), flashlight, a pair of gloves and a pair of booties
• A change of clothes and shoes

*Useful in cases of severe infestations where bed bugs are readily visible on walls and ceilings and contact is imminent. Booties and coveralls are not recommended for police conducting home visits because of possible tactical interference. Separate protection measures should be considered.

Guidelines for in-home visits

When conducting an in home visit it is recommended that employees do the following:

• On intake or prior to your first home visit with a client, ask if he or she has had any known infestations or treatments for any pests including bed bugs.
• Wear protective booties when a client states there is a known infestation; when conducting a home visit in a client’s unit that is located in a building with a known infestation; or when you are uncertain about the presence of an infestation.
• Coveralls should be worn if the employee is going to be moving items or touching things in a severely infested residence and where contact with bed bugs is imminent. Employee training should provide you with talking points to help you discuss this protective measure with clients.
• Do not sit on cloth-covered furniture or bedding. Pay attention to cracks and crevices of wooden or hard surface chairs as it is possible that bed bugs are hiding in these cracks and crevices. If possible bring a stool or folding chair which you can sit on during the home visit.
• Bring only items necessary for the visit into the home. A plastic (or metal) clipboard can be used to hold paperwork, while a “fanny” pack can be used to hold a wallet and other personal items, in addition to a spare pair of gloves and booties.
  • Store personal items securely in your vehicle prior to arriving at the location.Avoid placing any items on upholstered furniture or bedding or on carpeted floors.

• Upon completion of the visit, take the following steps if bed bugs are found during the home visit:

  • Perform a self-inspection for pests immediately after leaving and before entering another facility or a vehicle. Pay attention to inside and outside of shoes, lace holes, socks, leg area and around hands and arms.Remove protective booties immediately following the visit. Place them in a sealed plastic bag and dispose of the bag.
    • If you find a bed bug or other insect (e.g. cockroach), use the wet wipes to contain or crush the insect. Wipe the surrounding areas with another wet wipe as a precaution. Pay attention to corners, crevices and seams. Alternately, a spatula can be used to crush or remove the insect.
  • If a protective suit was worn, suit should be removed so that it is turned inside out as it is taken off so as to trap any bugs inside the suit. Immediately place all protective gear in a plastic bag and seal it; then dispose of the bag in an outdoor receptacle.
• Laying a plastic drum liner on the floor enables you to remove these garments on a clean surface that would make most bed bugs visible. Rolling the liner up will enable you to contain coveralls, booties and any possible insects. Seal the plastic in another bag and dispose as mentioned.
• Drum liners are also useful for containing articles suspected to have an infestation and can be used as temporary seat covers when transporting people (if clean clothes are unavailable or if an inspection of the person cannot be conducted).
  • Remember: on-person infestations are uncommon, although they do happen with severe infestations or in cases where the person is in bed or a wheel chair.
  • Note: a plastic seat cover, such as the drum liner, is not recommended for the driver as it may affect vehicular operation.

The employee who may have contracted bed bugs should notify a Supervisor and return to their home. The employee should remove clothing before entering their home (in an attached garage or just inside the entry door). Immediately place clothes in a plastic bag that can be tightly closed via a knot or twist tie. Wash contaminated clothing in hot, soapy water and dry in a dryer using the highest heat setting that the fabric can safely withstand. Any clothing or items taken into the home that cannot be washed or dry cleaned should be placed in a dryer on medium-high for at least 20 minutes. If items are taken to a dry cleaner, inform the cleaner of the possibility of bed bugs. For additional information see the fact sheet Laundering Items to Kill Bed Bugs. The employee should take a shower or bath.

Additional suggestions

The following suggestions were gathered from employees, and agencies that have successfully served clients with infestations over the years, as well as input from an entomologist. These practices may help avoid transporting bugs from one client to another or into your own home.

• Keep your car clean of clutter, vacuum weekly, and monitor for infestation.
• In a separate bag, keep a second pair of shoes and another jacket (if desired) for use in client homes.
• Discourage the sharing of vacuum cleaners by clients as this can be a means of transmission of hidden bed bugs. If using a vacuum or vacuum attachment in an infested residence, it is a good idea to finish up by sealing the vacuum bag with tape or place the vacuum bag inside a plastic bag, and then discard the bag in an outdoor container.
• Do not redistribute items from one client to another as this is a common means of bed bug transmission. Depending on the type of item, items that must be shared may be frozen at 0ºF for at least 4 days, heated to 122ºF, or washed in hot soapy water. Bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers that can hide in furniture, clothing, or other items brought from infested areas.

Guidelines for Home Visitors (.pdf)