Most employees at the California Department of Education’s Sacramento headquarters are working remotely after bed bugs were found in a concentrated area on the building’s third floor, prompting treatment and a building-wide inspection.An internal email sent to employees Friday and obtained by KCRA 3 said the insects were discovered in a concentrated area on the third floor. The email said most headquarters employees would work remotely through July 3 while treatment and inspections continue, though a limited number of employees whose work requires an on-site presence will continue reporting to the building.The Department of General Services, which manages the building, is overseeing the response with licensed pest control contractors.”State workers should never be forced to work in unsafe or unsanitary conditions,” said SEIU Local 100 President Anica Walls.Ryan Scott, a pest control specialist at Next Level Pest Control, said eliminating bed bugs from a large commercial building can be a lengthy process.”There’s only a few ways to get rid of them, and all of them are very extensive,” Scott said. He added that treatment of a building this size could take multiple weeks in a best-case scenario.Bed bugs are known for hiding in small cracks, crevices and furniture, making them difficult to detect and eliminate. Their bites often cause itchy, red welts, though severe allergic reactions are rare.The discovery comes less than a week before California’s expanded four-day return-to-office policy takes effect for many state workers. While the California Department of Education is not subject to that requirement, Walls said the incident highlights broader concerns about workplace safety.”I think this is one example of a health and safety concern that some of our members are obviously having to deal with,” Walls said.In a statement to KCRA 3, the department said treatment is underway on the third floor while inspectors determine whether the problem extends beyond that area. Officials said they will continue following recommendations from pest control experts to maintain a safe workplace.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Most employees at the California Department of Education’s Sacramento headquarters are working remotely after bed bugs were found in a concentrated area on the building’s third floor, prompting treatment and a building-wide inspection.
An internal email sent to employees Friday and obtained by KCRA 3 said the insects were discovered in a concentrated area on the third floor. The email said most headquarters employees would work remotely through July 3 while treatment and inspections continue, though a limited number of employees whose work requires an on-site presence will continue reporting to the building.
The Department of General Services, which manages the building, is overseeing the response with licensed pest control contractors.
“State workers should never be forced to work in unsafe or unsanitary conditions,” said SEIU Local 100 President Anica Walls.
Ryan Scott, a pest control specialist at Next Level Pest Control, said eliminating bed bugs from a large commercial building can be a lengthy process.
“There’s only a few ways to get rid of them, and all of them are very extensive,” Scott said. He added that treatment of a building this size could take multiple weeks in a best-case scenario.
Bed bugs are known for hiding in small cracks, crevices and furniture, making them difficult to detect and eliminate. Their bites often cause itchy, red welts, though severe allergic reactions are rare.
The discovery comes less than a week before California’s expanded four-day return-to-office policy takes effect for many state workers. While the California Department of Education is not subject to that requirement, Walls said the incident highlights broader concerns about workplace safety.
“I think this is one example of a health and safety concern that some of our members are obviously having to deal with,” Walls said.
In a statement to KCRA 3, the department said treatment is underway on the third floor while inspectors determine whether the problem extends beyond that area. Officials said they will continue following recommendations from pest control experts to maintain a safe workplace.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel