Protecting against pests
Gary Stanford, Owner and Director of Catch-It Pest Control, on how cleaners can stay alert to the signs of pest infestations.
Not only do pests carry germs and diseases that can make a building’s occupants particularly unwell, they can even cause damage to its structural integrity. Add to this a global pandemic which has left a number of commercial properties vacant, and the need to become alert to the signs of pest infestations becomes even more important.
Buildings in particular sectors, including restaurants and hotels, offices, education and industry, are especially vulnerable to outbreaks.
Cleaners are often some of the few people onsite in some of these buildings, and can be among the first to alert facilities managers and property owners to problems. In order to do this, it’s a good idea to be familiar with some of the most common pests in commercial buildings.
Common pests
Mice and rats are two of the biggest culprits when it comes to commercial buildings, especially restaurants and cafes, but they can also be found in all kinds of buildings, including office blocks. Not only do they carry bacteria and contaminate food, they are capable of an exponential increase in population, producing multiple litters in a year if they have access to a suitable food supply.
Flies can produce a similar problem, multiplying quickly with the right temperature and food supplies. Flies might seem like a slightly more harmless problem than rodents, but they carry a number of microorganisms that cause diseases such as Salmonella, Cholera and E. coli.
Birds, such as pigeons, sparrows and starlings can also spread diseases, as well as wreak physical damage when they take roost in window ledges, gutters and roofs.
Last but certainly not least, cockroaches are another common problem, feeding on mould and faecal matter in sewers and transferring this into commercial buildings.
What are the signs? Naturally, different pests will come with different warning
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signs of an infestation and some are more obvious than others. For example, when it comes to mice and rats, droppings, holes and chewed cables are all fairly clear signals there’s a problem, but grease marks from tails, and scratch marks on skirting boards are also more subtle signs to be aware of.
Damaged plants can be a hint you have flies, as well as beetles, crickets and other insects.
With birds, the signs may be more audible, but as well as an ear, you should also keep an eye out for any nesting materials, as well as dislodged roofing tiles, or blocked guttering or drainage.
Cleaning routine pest prevention
75% of good pest control is good cleaning, so alongside your usual thorough routine there are a few extra practical tips you can bear in mind to help prevent an infestation:
• Alert building managers to any holes, cracks and crevices, or general maintenance that needs carrying out. Pests exploit gaps in walls, ceilings and doorways.
• Alert building managers to out of hours leaks – faulty drainage systems are a real issue when it comes to rodents, so this could be crucial in stemming a rat problem before it gets out of hand.
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Inspect stock rooms and store rooms regularly – these are your pest’s food supply, after all.
• Keep doors and windows shut. • Keep lids on bins and make sure rubbish is removed frequently.
Pest infestations threaten building owners with a significant financial cost, not to mention reputational damage, so cleaners who can take on and demonstrate this responsibility to their contractors or facilities managers are proving their value and making themselves indispensable in the process.
www.pestcontrol4london.co.uk twitter.com/TomoCleaning
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