Inhospitably clean
Berwyn Evans and Paul Casson from Rentokil Pest Control talk about how you can prevent rodent infestations by maintaining impeccable hygiene.
At this time of year it can be hard to maintain the highest possible levels of hygiene, with employees fighting colds and rodents attempting to make their way inside in search of food and shelter.
Staying rodent free can be challenging for any premises, as they offer pests an abundance of warmth and food sources. Many buildings or facilities also produce large amounts of waste, which are not only attractive to pests but can also create an ideal environment for microbial activity to thrive.
Don’t ig-gnaw warning signs
It’s always advisable to have a proactive pest control strategy in place to ensure that any problem is identified as early as possible, making it easier to contain and treat.
Rodents can spread disease-causing micro-organisms, including
E.Coli and Salmonella, in their waste, contaminate food items with droppings, cause damage to doors and other objects with their persistent gnawing as well as increasing the risk of a fire if they happen to chew through electrical wires. With such high risks, it makes sense to proactively prevent an infestation from occurring and to quickly deal with the problem if there are signs of an infestation.
One way to control the spread of rodents in buildings is to ensure you don’t provide them with the ideal conditions in which to thrive. Simple steps, such as ensuring food is properly sealed and stored, can make a big difference. Mice can squeeze through gaps the size of a pen to enter a building, so it’s important to check for, and seal, obvious holes in the exterior with suitable proofing materials, including wire wool, metal kick plates or rodent-proof caulk.
Here are three top tips for preventing rodent infestations that you won’t want to ignore:
Active monitoring
Products like Rentokil’s RADAR can detect the very early stages of a rodent infestation, while ensuring toxic substances aren’t deployed unnecessarily onsite. The use of flourescent tracking gel, which reflects UV light, is useful in highlighting rodent footprints, making it easier to identify their presence.
34 | PEST CONTROL Remove food sources
Mice and rats can not only consume but also contaminate food in premises. It’s important to keep food products sealed properly in metal or industrial plastic bins or stored in sealed cupboards above floor level.
Mice will feed from up to 70 different food sources in 24 hours, so knowing where to place bait for them can prove challenging. Rentokil’s RapidPro Riddance can help overcome issues associated with the feeding habits of mice within buildings. It contains a fast-acting rodenticide, alphachloralose, which means the deceased mouse will typically be found close to the bait and can be disposed of easily.
Cleanliness is key
Facilities managers and employees should try to keep clutter to a minimum, and if an infestation is suspected, move units away from the walls to ensure it’s possible to check what’s hiding behind them. Ensure waste on your premises is kept in closed bins, and cleaning pipes and drains regularly is also advisable. Remember that rats can find their way into buildings through damaged drains and even through toilet pipework.
Legislation
For facilities that produce, store or serve food, there are several, long-standing acts in place that businesses and staff need to be aware of when it comes to pest control. For example, the Food Safety Act 1990 (concerned with food quality) and Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 (obligations to control pests).
The Food Safety & Hygiene (England) (Amended) Regulations 2016 provides the main provisions around the legal requirements for the safe production of food. It states that premises should be designed so that they enable cleaning and the proper removal of waste. It also says that as far as is practicable, any risk of infestation by rodents must be prevented. Similar legislation applies to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
For other buildings or facilities, pest management and cleanliness falls under the Occupational Health and Safety
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