ESTATE MAINTENANCE
Challenges of maintaining a pest-free hospital
David Cross, head of the Technical Training Academy at Rentokil Pest Control, and Paul Casson, Technical field manager at Rentokil Specialist Hygiene, look at some of the pest control challenges facing healthcare estates teams, and at how to meet them.
Hospitals need to be clean, sterile environments to prevent infection spreading. The UK has strict hygiene legislation that facilities must adhere to, so that patients and staff are kept safe, but maintaining the highest levels of hygiene may not always be a straightforward task. Pest control can be challenging in healthcare facilities – because pests are naturally attracted to buildings, where there is shelter, warmth, food, and water in abundance. Prevention of pests in hospitals requires constant vigilance, as pests such as rodents and insects can contaminate surfaces, medical supplies, and equipment, as they move from one food source to another. Hospitals often go to great lengths to prevent potential pest problems. Just this year it was reported that one Glaswegian hospital had paid nearly half a million pounds since 2015 to maintain a pest-free environment. A spokesperson from the hospital was quoted in the media, saying: “We continuously and actively review pest prevention and control requirements through regular audits in all hospitals and premises. This integrated management approach significantly reduces pest issues through proactive and preventative systems. In addition to these preventative
There is a danger that both mice and rats will chew through electric cables.
systems, if staff in a given area observe or suspect pest infection of any kind, a reactive service is provided immediately.”
Risks of poor hygiene standards It’s clear that a proactive strategy to pest control is crucial in order to remain compliant with health and safety regulations. Failure to maintain hygiene standards and respond to infestations can be costly, as pest infestations can lead to the temporary closure of a unit, ward, department, or even an entire healthcare facility. Below are the four key rules you should follow to make sure that your hospital doesn’t fall victim to an infestation:
Pigeons, gulls, and other bird pests are a major problem faced by hospitals up and down the UK. Their fouling is not only unsightly and harmful to buildings, but is also a health hazard.
62 Health Estate Journal July 2020
Rule one – Prevention is better than cure While a single pest sighting might not seem like a problem, it often indicates a much larger issue, so immediate action is advised. Non-toxic monitoring blocks are one-way that problems can be detected as early as possible, while ensuring that toxic substances aren’t deployed unnecessarily on site. Some of these blocks contain fluorescent materials which reflect UV light, highlighting rodents’ droppings, and making it easier to identify their presence.
There are also internet-connected traps
to detect and provide an alert to rodent activity ‘24/7’. For example, Rentokil’s 'Pest Connect' uses wireless technology to let a pest control technician know when a rodent has been caught on site. Once the trap is activated, an alert is triggered via SMS for a technician to visit the site and dispose of the pest professionally.
Rule two – Know your pest A simple understanding of what pests you are most likely to encounter, and why they are drawn to the facility, will play a significant role in helping to prevent a pest problem. It’s always a good idea to empower other employees with the knowledge on how to spot an issue. Online learning platforms are an increasingly popular method of educating staff – the benefit being that they can be accessed on demand and remotely. One such training programme is myLearning, Rentokil Pest Control’s interactive e-learning portal, which helps companies train their employees on the importance of pest control within their premises. Training is specifically designed to improve employee knowledge of pest compliance issues in key areas, including health and safety, and legislation. Understanding what signs to look for can
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72
