Portrait of a Nation: The man who takes risks to helps keep Abu Dhabi free from pests

Many of the men and women who keep the Emirates safe, clean and moving, fly below the radar, with little recognition. Today we highlight the efforts of one such worker.

Mohammed Hanif takes health risks every day to keep pests under control in people’s homes in Abu Dhabi. Ravindranath K / The National

ABU DHABI // The risks involved in firefighting and police work are well known but there are many unsung heroes out there who deal with daily risks, among them pest controllers.

The insects and vermin they deal with are a nuisance but the chemicals sprayed to kill them can pose serious health issues for those who come into contact with them.

Bangladeshi Mohammed Hanif has been killing bugs for six years in Abu Dhabi and said the risk is all in a day’s work.

“Every day I do five to six jobs. It’s well known how dangerous and risky the task of pest controlling is, but, still, we do this to earn money for the family.

“We take risks and do the job to lead a respectable life. If you want to earn money, you have to face some challenges.”

The 27-year-old said that if any pest controllers fell ill, his company, Al Ibdaa Pest Control and Cleaning, took care of their medical treatment here in the UAE or in the employee’s homeland.

Mr Hanif, who earns Dh1,600 a month, said his health was good but that he had heard stories of others who had suffered.

“I heard one person worked in a similar profession for more than seven years and he suffered severe breathing problems,” he said.

“Later he was diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) then he returned to his country.”

Several cases of people being affected by pesticides have been reported in recent years.

In March, a three-week-old Syrian boy died after a banned pesticide was used in the flat next door to his family’s home in Sharjah.

A Filipino was killed last year after his neighbour used the wrong chemicals, which were not meant for domestic use, in his home, police said.

In 2013, three people in the UAE were killed by pesticides.

Mr Hanif said safety measures needed to be implemented properly because problems often occurred when they were ignored.

“One person told me that when you become old this will affect your health, but so far I haven’t had any complications,” he said.

“Sometimes, when I go to bed, I feel strain in the body and blockage of my nose when I wake up in the morning, but a glass of milk keeps me fit.”

Mr Hanif said that customers must use only proper pest-removal companies because they do the job right, as opposed to unauthorised pest controllers who often use chemical “bombs” that are banned and dangerous.

“We always use certified chemicals for pest controlling and wear masks,” he said.

“We are a licensed company and spray only authorised chemicals. It’s safe and you don’t need to inform people living next door.

“Although we do advise residents to stay away from home for at least three hours after the treatment.”

Mr Hanif, who sends money home to his parents and wife each month, said he did not have a set day off each week because work was determined by customers. Weekends, he said, were usually busy, while midweek could be quiet. Pesticide treatments start at Dh200 and increase depending on the size of the area to be treated.

“I have been with the same company for six years now and I don’t plan to switch, but I am also thinking that, when I go back home, I don’t want to continue in the same profession,” he said. “Due to dealing with poisonous chemicals for so many years, now I feel scared.”