PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN THE CURE
When it comes to dealing with pest control, the best option is always to prevent an
infestation rather than deal with the aftermath. Paul Bates, managing director of Cleankill Pest Control, discusses the best ways to avoid problems.
The impact of getting pest control wrong on your premises can be widespread. News of a pest infestation can spread in minutes, leaving customers scurrying away, staff fretting and your reputation in tatters.
No commercial, retail or industrial property can ever be guaranteed pest free. Modern building techniques like using stud partitioning, breeze blocks, false flooring and main service voids often lend themselves to creating the perfect harbourages for pests.
A mouse can get in through a gap the width of a pencil, cockroaches can be brought in on cardboard packaging, fleas may be picked up on public transport, pigeons will make the most of those wonderfully designed architectural ledges on the outsides of buildings - and flies will just fly in!
So what should you be doing to limit the risk of pest infestations?
CHECK THE CONTRACT Normal contracts for standard premises will include a minimum of eight inspections a year. Factories producing high-risk food or manufacturing pharmaceuticals will require more frequent visits. The inspections should include all common areas such as: plant rooms, basements, riser cupboards, car parks and landscaped areas - all areas where pests could harbour and reproduce undisturbed.
PROOF YOUR PREMISES Effective proofing will restrict rather than be a complete ‘NO ENTRY’ to mice. Bristle stripping the bottom of doors, especially external doors and riser cupboard doors, should restrict movement and keep the rodents out of the office areas. Rat valves fitted into drains are very effective at stopping rodents entering premises through the drains.
Checking the external airbricks and weep holes and putting specially designed covers on them, if necessary, should be another regular inspection. Bird spikes onto ledges, as well as the girders beneath fire escapes and parapets, will
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stop pigeons messing on steps and walkways. Netting on light wells prevents birds gaining access into sheltered areas at the back of buildings. This is critical as a host of problems can be caused when pigeon numbers build up. They bring
with them other pest problems such as bird mites, fleas and flies. Fouling blocks gutters, downpipes and air-conditioning intakes. Bird-free gel, which appears as flames to birds, complements other bird control methods well.
FLY CONTROL Install fly-control units in kitchenettes, catering areas, bin rooms and delivery bays to catch the flies before they enter the building. Glue board units are generally preferred to ‘sparking’ units, as the glue ensures that bacteria does not get inadvertently dispersed out of the unit while a flying insect is electrocuted. The glue-board units can be moved around affected offices, particularly in those offices that suffer from the autumn cluster flies.
CLEANLINESS Check when the bins are emptied. Leaving cleaning up of food debris until the following morning provides a perfect night time feast for pests, at a time when they are most active. Remains in a crisp packet are a tasty meal for mice and apple cores in a bin provide a nice breeding ground for fruit flies. Staff often leave crackers in their bottom drawers to find on a Monday morning they have been eaten. Foodstuffs should be kept in sealed containers and simple hygiene rules can restrict the build up of unwanted pests.
WORK WITH THE CONTRACTOR Communication is key, especially if you look after several different sites. Your contractor should complete a detailed report at the end of each inspection and make sure you receive it soon after. Many pest control companies like Cleankill use digital reporting so the report is available to within minutes of the service being carried out. The reports should be read and acknowledged, not just filed away.
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