PPC120 | MEET THE MEMBER

PPC magazine editor Kat Shaw took a trip to Crawley in May, to visit Pest Control Officer Maggie Orszak, and her manager Debbie Gomez, at Crawley Borough Council.

With a strong stomach, a fascination for pests, and an impressive background in environmental services, Maggie represents the modern face of pest control—highly skilled, compassionate, and deeply committed to public health.

Getting your hands dirty

PPC Maggie, your route into pest control began in quite a strange way, is that right?

MO I guess so! After moving to central London from Poland around 15 years ago, I began doing deep cleaning and clearances for Jarsen, carrying out contracts for councils in areas like Camden and Westminster.

It was tough work. Sometimes we’d be called in after someone had passed away alone, and we’d be cleaning out properties full of maggots and flies.

PPC I suppose a lot of people would be put off by that kind of grim work? 

MO It was unpleasant at times, but someone needs to do it. Plus the pay was good and we had a great team.

PPC So how did you make the transition from environmental clearances to pest control? 

MO It was actually a very funny moment. We were clearing out a loft when my colleague and our customer started to scream. There was a snap trap with a mouse still alive in it! I couldn’t let it suffer.

So I asked for something to dispatch it humanely. That was my first real pest control moment! 

As Jarsen had a pest control arm to it, the company director supported a move into a pest career for me. I took my Level 2 Award in Pest Management qualification and never looked back.

“Crawley’s parks, streams, and ponds are wonderful, but they also mean there’s a lot of rat activity, so education is key”

A new challenge

PPC How did you end up working at Crawley Borough Council?

MO After more than a decade in London, my partner and I relocated to Crawley around 2023. But I was still working in London, and the commute was exhausting.

Getting up at 4 am, sitting in traffic every night. Eating your breakfast and dinner on the way to and from work. We wanted a better quality of life. That’s when I applied to work at Crawley BC and got the job. 

PPC Today, you’re the sole pest control officer at Crawley BC. Is that a lot of responsibility? 

MO Yes, it can be. I have to know how to handle everything from rats and mice to bed bugs and squirrels. I have to deal with every pest control call that comes into the council, and there are a lot.

But I love meeting people, talking to them and helping them as much as I can. I’ll always do my best to squeeze as many customers as possible into my schedule.

DG Yes, even when it means working much later than you should!

PPC What are you most passionate about in pest control?

MO I love rodents, they’re my favourite. But I find bed bugs fascinating too. They’re tricky to deal with, and I enjoy the challenge.

I’m always reading, learning, and watching webinars. I actually really enjoy my CPD!

PPC Debbie, you’re Maggie’s manager, so I’m assuming this enthusiasm from Maggie hasn’t gone unnoticed? 

DG Yes, I work in the Environmental Health team, which pest control falls under at the council.

Maggie’s amazing. Customers love her. She goes above and beyond, not just treating pests but educating residents and even liaising with our repairs team to tackle structural issues. She’s a great listener and she really cares.

MO It’s a good job they like me, because Crawley is so small that I’m always bumping into my customers at Tesco!

Public sector pest control in practice

PPC Tell me about how the pest control service works at Crawley BC.

DG Crawley’s pest control service is currently self-funding but not fully subsidised. Residents can book treatments for a range of pests, with discounts available for those on benefits.

Our core service is for rats, mice, and squirrels. We’re trying to strike the right balance; keeping it affordable for residents but sustainable for the council.

MO The service is increasingly focused on prevention and education. A major challenge is how residents interact with local wildlife.

Crawley’s really green, with loads of parks, streams, and ponds. That’s great, but it means there’s a lot of rat activity. Some residents feed birds, or even feed the rats, so we do a lot of education around that.

DG We’re finding that people want more knowledge, not just a quick fix. Maggie’s great at taking the time to explain what’s going on and how they can prevent it happening again.

An invasive pest purview

PPC You mentioned earlier that the pest control team is part of Crawley’s wider Environmental Health department? 

DG Yes, as well as pest control, we monitor pollution, food safety, and air quality. 

One growing area of concern is the potential arrival of invasive mosquito species, especially at Gatwick Airport.

We work with the UK Health Security Agency to monitor for tiger mosquitoes. We have traps both landside and airside at the airport. If anything suspicious is found, it goes straight to the lab.

PPC I’m a total airport lingo layman. What’s the difference between landside and airside?

DG “Landside" encompasses the public areas accessible to everyone, like check-in counters, baggage claim and departure halls.

"Airside" refers to the secure area beyond security checkpoints, where aircraft and related facilities like boarding gates and runways are located.

Although Maggie isn’t directly involved in the mosquito monitoring yet, she’s keen to get involved.

MO It’s fascinating. I’d love to do more of that in future.

“With officers like Maggie on the front line, Crawley’s pest control service isn’t just about eliminating pests, it’s about building trust, educating communities, and safeguarding public health.”

Devolution on the horizon

PPC A potentially big question, but do you know yet if devolution will alter the way Crawley BC’s pest control team operates?

DG There are no answers just yet. We don’t know how it will affect us at the moment, but what we do know is that our residents will still need some form of pest control treatment available to them.

How it’s organised might change; it may be that services are offered more centrally. And perhaps Maggie will be part of a larger pest control team, no longer a one-woman band.

There are some big decisions to come, and I’m sure we’ll find out soon what that means for our team before the end of the year.

Being a role model

PPC As a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field, do you find that challenging?

MO I think we bring a different approach to customer service, and I find that particularly older residents really appreciate that gentler approach. 

I also read somewhere that rats can detect male pheromones and act more aggressively towards them, so maybe we even have an advantage there!

PPC Do you have any plans for the future, in terms of your career?

MO Yeah, I definitely want to advance my skills further. I’d love to do the Certificated Advanced Technician qualification (CAT). There’s so much more to learn, and I want to stay ahead.

DG With Maggie on the front line, Crawley’s pest control service isn’t just about eliminating pests. It’s about building trust, educating communities, and safeguarding public health.

She’s a fantastic role model for anyone wanting to make a difference in their community. 

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