PEST CONRTOL
TO CONTROL BED BUGS, YOU SHOULD CONSIDER TAKING THE FOLLOWING STEPS:
1. TRAIN YOUR HOUSEKEEPING & MAINTENANCE STAFF
Housekeeping and maintenance staff come into daily contact with various rooms and furnishings – making it imperative that they know exactly how to identify, report and respond to bed bug sightings.
While, historically, managers in the hospitality industry may have sent employees on a pest awareness training course, online learning platforms are becoming increasingly accessible and popular. Rentokil Pest Control has launched the myLearning platform for its customers, which educates on how to spot signs of an infestation and the best ways to get rid of them. There is a dedicated ‘Bed Bug Awareness’ course offered via myLearning, specifically designed to provide training for staff working within the hospitality industry. This enables employees to become an army of eyes and ears around a business, able to spot the first signs of a pest problem. Online learning platforms can be accessed on demand and remotely, helping to make additional studying far more convenient and time-efficient.
2. STAY VIGILANT The worst case scenario for hotel, B&B and hostel owners alike is that a guest is the first person to spot an infestation. Remaining vigilant is key to avoiding this. However, since bed bugs usually travel in the suitcases of their hosts, it’s worth
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preparing for such a situation. Remind your staff to take every bed bug complaint seriously and to immediately move the customer to another room if possible.
3. EFFECTIVE TREATMENT When checking bed linen for live bed bugs, small dark bloodspots and a distinctive sweet and sickly smell will help you identify a problem. Once you are sure you have an infestation, effective treatment should be undertaken as soon as possible.
Implementing a mobile heat pod treatment is a good option. This is chemical-free and involves the set- up of a room-sized structure where all furniture and furnishings from the affected area can be placed. The contents are then heated to a temperature that kills off all bed bug life stages, including their eggs. Treatment is computer-controlled to protect furniture from damage – meaning the room can be turned around quickly, thereby reducing loss of revenue for the business. Additionally, a good pest controller will fully inspect the affected room after treatment, and declare it officially clear of bed bugs before you re-open the room to guests.
As with all pest infestations, quick identification and elimination is key to reducing the impact of a bed bug infestation. If you are in any doubt as to whether your business has fallen victim to bed bugs, it’s best to call in the experts.
www.rentokil.co.uk TOMORROW’S FM | 31
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