— By Amanda Anderson —
Why you should proactively implement a pest prevention program.
I don’t mean to be a pest, but do your facilities have a pest prevention program in place? Research has shown that preventative measures are crucial to keeping a safe and clean environment for both customers and employees, while cutting down on costs associated with pest treatments. Maintaining vigilant pest control programs remains crucial to keeping these unwelcome guests from creeping through the cracks and into your facility.
Spotting a cockroach in the restroom should serve as a warning to reach out to your pest control provider, before things get out of hand. Not only can they identify the pests, but they can also choose the most effective treatment methods and decide when other actions are necessary. Remember: a single negative social media post can be shared nationwide in a matter of hours and globally within days, placing your company in a harmful spotlight. Before that happens, consider implementing a pest prevention program.
Types of pests often included in pest prevention programs:
• Ants
• Cockroaches
• Silverfish
• Common spiders
• Beetles
• Mice
Well-trained experts understand that pests like rodents will seek out food and water wherever they can find it, not just limited to communal areas like break rooms or bathrooms. Pests can also find their way into less obvious areas such as ceilings, pipes and air ducts. It is important not to overlook the exterior of a building, either. A thorough pest prevention program should include treating the building’s exterior as an added layer of protection against pest invasions.
During the cooler months of autumn, rodents feel drawn indoors to escape the chill. Commercial warehouses, with their abundance of opportunities for nesting among pallets and storage boxes, can become particularly attractive to these pests. Access to food and water near break rooms and dumpsters only adds to the appeal for these unwelcome guests.
Key components of rodent prevention:
• Identify areas that need sealing off, such as gaps under doors, holes around piping that connect from the interior to the exterior of the building, cracks along the base of walls, plus open automatic and roll-up doors. All it takes is a hole the size of a dime to function as an entry point for rodents.
• To prevent pest infestations, it is important to maintain proper sanitation practices on a regular basis. This includes the sweeping up of crumbs, mopping spills, taking out the garbage, making sure open food packages are not being stored in drawers or lockers and ensuring that your dumpster is regularly emptied.
• It is also crucial to be aware of your surroundings. Factors such as nearby construction projects, fields or water surrounding your building, and the presence of restaurants can all affect the level of prevention measures needed outside the building.
• Pest control technicians should conduct regular field checks to look for evidence of pests, such as droppings or urine. Upon finding evidence, it should be thoroughly cleaned up to eliminate the scent trail that rodents leave behind for others to follow.
Staying vigilant for uncommon pests is crucial as they can lead to significant issues. Examples of such pests include bed bugs, termites, mosquitoes and bees/wasps. These pests, such as bedbugs, can sneak into facilities by hitching rides on clothes or personal items. Stagnant water around loading bays can attract mosquitoes for breeding.
Wild animals like opossums, raccoons and birds are considered part of pest control responsibilities. It is crucial to have trained wildlife experts oversee trapping and removal to ensure the safety of the animals, as well as your customers and employees. During the trapping process, wildlife specialists can evaluate your premises to provide valuable information on how the animal got in and suggest potential areas for exclusion or steps to deter future intrusions.
Like other flying pests, there are methods of prevention for birds to keep them from nesting in areas just outside the doors and entering the building. It is even possible for birds to gain entry through gaps near HVAC systems or pipes. Bird deterrents are the application of products to keep birds completely away from your roofs, ledges, canopies, signs, or other specific locations. Exclusion products deter birds from nesting, roosting or landing in specific areas to reduce droppings and disturbances to customers, employees and your building. A trained bird specialist can suggest the right application of deterrents based on the type of bird and where they are choosing to nest.
A full-blown infestation can develop rapidly, whether it be a trail of ants along the baseboards, a single mouse scurrying under the shelves or a flock of pigeons overtaking your entrance canopy. Implementing proper pest management measures can save your company from expensive remediation, health risks and even more costly structural damage.
Be proactive and take the required actions to stop pests from entering your premises.
— Amanda Anderson is production manager – Superior Facility Service Group, Inc., a family owned and operated company specializing in commercial maintenance and repair, bird control and prevention, and disaster restoration. Visit: www.superiorfacilityservice.com.