United Voice News
Day in the life of ... a pest controller
Maggots, rats and dead bodies… it’s all in day’s work for Stuart Ellis.
For the last twenty five years, Stuart Ellis’ day has started pretty much the same way: With a list of houses, restaurants and other buildings overrun with anything from cockroaches, rats, termites or spiders.
Throughout his day Stuart will crawl under buildings, through roofs and unleash his artillery of chemical weapons at these unwelcome intruders.
In a normal day he will visit about nine homes, shops, restaurants or hospitals.
Today he is advising a well known fast-food chain on their fly infestation.
“A lot of places are dealing with flies at the moment because of the drought in NSW — they are getting blown down here in masses,” Stuart said.
For each of his 25 years in the job there has been another constant: proud LHMU membership.
“Being in a union, I tend to know my rights and if I don’t know something I can always ring up and get answers,” Stuart said.
“Employers even have to come to me for answers.”
Stuart believes being in a union is important for any worker.
“I’ll be in a union as long as I am working,” he declares.
As we talk at the fast food restaurant, he sips on a free coffee and greets the passing staff by name.
“It’s not all spraying and baiting. I treat a lot of my customers like family. I always have a chat and a laugh.”
“You build up a great rapport with the customers and that makes the job pleasant — it also makes good business.”
Free coffee is not the only perk of the job.
“I have done fumigation at the airport for Qantas. I finished the job and they gave me free tickets to the air show. They picked me and my family up and took us to the show and gave us the VIP treatment.”
His job also has plenty of challenges.
“The most difficult pest to control is cockroaches. They can hide in so many places and become immune to the chemicals, so it’s a never-ending pursuit,” said Stuart.
“One of the worst jobs is when a person dies and people don’t notice for a few days — you get a problem with the smell and maggots. We are called in to deodorise and fumigate before people remove the body.”
Do you work in an interesting job? Tell us at dayinthelifeof@lhmu.org.au
