PEST CONTROL Rats: Spotting the signs


Natalie Bungay, Technical Manager at the British Pest Control Association (BPCA), says that cleaning operatives play a key role in protecting public health and are likely to be the first to spot if a client has a rat infestation.


Public health pests can affect people’s physical and mental health, cause damage to property and impact businesses practically, legally and reputationally.


Cleaners are the people most likely to access areas that rats may use to feed, breed or travel, such as behind or under furniture, around boilers or drains and in storage areas – particularly in places with high turnover of people like factories, office blocks and care homes. This means they could prevent the presence of a rat escalating into a major infestation – if they know the signs to look out for.


Rats can move into a building at any time, but this is more likely during the winter when they will take refuge from the weather and look for alternative food sources indoors.


Signs that rats are about include:


1. Rat faeces – these are dark, pellet-shaped and look roughly the size of a raisin


2. Gnaw marks or torn bags of foodstuff and materials 3. Footprints or tail marks in dusty unused areas 4.


can be crucial for cleaners to know the signs of a possible infestation, to understand the risks an infestation can pose and have a clear method to report concerns.


‘Smear marks’ caused by their coats rubbing on the walls


5. Scratching, gnawing and scuttling noises. Brown rats are also prone to grinding their teeth and chattering when stressed. Correct identification is vital, as these sounds can also be attributed to a squirrel infestation.


Rats carry diseases on their feet and fur, with serious implications if they contaminate a food preparation or processing area. In the food and hospitality industries, failure to control pests can lead to serious legal consequences including the closure of premises, fines and even prosecution.


Electrical fires and flooding attributed to rat activity due to their ability to gnaw through wood, cables, pipes and brick – and their rapid breeding cycle – means a pair can become dozens and then hundreds in a matter of months.


BPCA always advocates a ‘prevention is better than cure’ approach, and pest-prevention measures that can be undertaken daily include:


• Thorough cleaning – rats need access to food, water and shelter. Cleaning can eradicate their opportunities to find food and water


• Visual checks – keep an eye out every day for unusual changes


• Clear away any food waste immediately


• Ensure all waste is bagged before placing into an outdoor bin with a tightly fitting lid.


Prevention and early detection are key to a rapid solution when it comes to pest management – which is why it


36 | TOMORROW'S CLEANING


Cleaners who benefit from appropriate training and are encouraged to report potential pest problems can save clients thousands of pounds by preventing additional operating costs, potential legal problems and possible loss of product or revenue.


It’s also essential that any concerns raised by on-the- ground operatives are considered and, if required, acted upon by management to ensure a suspected rat or pest infestation is dealt with appropriately.


In recent years, some rats have become resistant to a number of rodenticides, which means tackling an infestation requires a pest professional such as a BPCA member who will:


• Carry the correct insurances • Be trained and qualified technicians


• Be assessed to the British Standard in pest management EN 16636


• Follow the BPCA’s Codes of Best Practice.


A BPCA member company will also have access to products not available to the public, as well as having the technical knowledge and experience to apply products in an efficient manner while minimising risk to the environment and non-target species.


The BPCA is the premier trade association for professional pest management companies in the UK. Member companies meet or exceed all legal and due diligence requirements and comply with the most current legislation.


www.bpca.org.uk twitter.com/TomoCleaning


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