5 minute read
Maintaining pest control standards despite COVID-19 pressures
from FCM Spring 2022
by MediaEdge
As facilities reopen, pests may be emboldened and must be combated
by Alice Sinia, Ph.D.
Maintaining a pest-free environment can be difficult amid the challenges posed by COVID-19. As foot traffic continues to recover, pests may have newfound comfort and not be afraid to invade a facility further. If staffing at your location has not returned to pre-pandemic levels, there may be fewer people to monitor potential pest activity. Those on the job may be stretched thin to maintain sanitation and structural maintenance over a larger area, which means pests are more likely to invade, infest, and establish themselves indoors easily.
How can hospitality and retail facilities keep pest pressures at bay as the industries navigate closures, capacity restrictions, and future health guidelines? Below we will look at the common areas pests seek out and how you can ensure your building does not become the new rent-free home for pests this spring.
HOSPITALITY
The two biggest areas of concern in hospitality are kitchens and guest rooms.
In the kitchen, pay close attention to your food prep areas, pantry, and garbage room. Inspect all incoming packages and produce before storage to stop pests from hitchhiking a ride into your facility. Once it’s stored, stock must be regularly inspected and used on a first-in-first-out basis. This prevents stored food supplies from sitting on the shelf for unnecessarily long periods. Pay close attention to fresh produce, especially potatoes, onions, and fruits that cannot be refrigerated. If possible, use fly-proof mesh storage bags to prevent small infestations.
Ensure your staff also properly cleans all food equipment and floors each night at closing to avoid crumbs or cooking grease attracting pests at night. Once a week, schedule deep cleaning of hard-toreach areas in the kitchen, such as under and behind stoves, footings, prep counters, dishwashers, and voids in equipment plus floor drains and the garbage room. Store all foods in airtight containers and keep them at least 20 centimetres from the wall and off the floor. Always have staff empty the trash every night so there is never trash left in these areas overnight. To prevent small flies from breeding, regularly rinse and dry the bottom of garbage receptacles before lining them to prevent fly breeding. Rinse and empty vegetable and beverage cans prior to recycling. Make sure to put them in tight closing recycling bins or bags, and do not keep for more than seven days.
If your kitchen or food preparation areas are not operating daily or are temporarily closed, it is best to have a staff member check on the space every few days to ensure there is no pest activity. Signs of an infestation include rodent droppings, chew marks on cardboard packages or food items, webbing in pantry, insect trails, flies around sink drains or floor drains, and so on. In guest rooms, ensure your cleaning staff empties all trashcans between each guest and daily during a guest’s stay, if possible. With buffet-style and community breakfast options limited or closed for safety reasons, guests may dine more in their rooms, so removing food waste quickly is crucial to keep pests from being attracted to guest rooms. Ensure your staff knows the signs of bedbugs and inspect for such signs when cleaning rooms and changing linens.
RETAIL
While food may not be an issue for some retail spaces, conditions such as shelter and warmth will still attract pests to your location.
In these scenarios, keeping pests out from the beginning is the best defense. Make sure all windows and doors — including your shipping and receiving doors — are properly pest-proofed. They need to have tight and proper seals on them — you should not be able to see any gaps of daylight coming through. If you can, the stripping is not creating a proper seal. Ensure interior and exterior walls are free of cracks and crevices where pests can sneak through or hide. There should be no openings or damage in the building’s ceiling boards or foundation. Inspect all incoming goods to ensure no pests are hitchhiking into the store, which means checking shipping containers and boxes for signs of pest activity or damage. Back storage areas must be free of clutter with items stored away from the wall and, if possible, off the floor. Items such as card boxes provide hiding places for cockroaches and spiders, so make sure to check shelved items regularly for signs of pests. If flying pests are a problem at your store, consider adding discreet insect light traps.
Finally, although serving food is not a concern for these establishments, ensure washrooms and employee break spaces are free of leftover foods, trash, and debris to help reduce attraction of pests. Ensure you have proper washroom care and odour control systems in place to prevent pest attraction. Check and fix water leaks from pipes, sinks, or faulty faucets as these can attract pests.
No matter the circumstances, the best way to prevent pests is to remain alert and proactive while maintaining a steady and effective pest management plan. Educate your staff and remember to regularly check for signs of pest activity. If you see any, immediately notify your pest management provider so a professional can come out, assess the situation, and develop a solution tailored to your specific issue and facility. /
Alice Sinia, Ph.D. is quality assurance manager of regulatory/lab Services for Orkin Canada, focusing on government regulations pertaining to the pest control industry.
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