Keeping Offices Pest Free

February 25, 2022
0 comments
Tereso sobo
Posted in Business
0

In the ideal world offices would be pest free and there would be nothing to worry about in relation to having pests in the workplace. However, the reality is pests get everywhere and especially in places you don’t expect them. Therefore it is better to be prepared than to wait for the inevitable to happen. It is no surprise that many people have phobias towards pests whether it be rodents or insects. So, if the business is unfortunate enough to have an infestation, then there may be some very unhappy staff which brings its own problems. So, what can be done to keep the office pest free?

A proactive approach to pest control is always the best way to fight this type of problem. Integrated Pest Management is without a doubt the answer to keeping a pest free environment as it incorporates all pest control measures, procedures and techniques to prevent infestations developing in your workplace.

What Pests Could You Encounter in an Office

When it comes to pests in the office, well it could be absolutely anything as there are so many possibilities. Did it fly in the open window, did it pig back in from a host (that host being one of the office workers). Did it make entry from a hole in the wall where the last owners had cables coming in and the hole has never been filled in. With all this in mind the most common pests will be a rodent of some kind or your normal day to day insects. So, let’s look at what can be done to stop it happening.

Housekeeping

The most effective way to keep an office free of pests is by good housekeeping. Especially when it comes to insect infestations. This should be backed up with a robust office policy outlining some key areas such as food, eating areas, cleaning, rubbish, and fault reporting on the building. Every type of office and working area is going to be different with its own intricacies, but let’s delve into this a bit further, so it will help to structure a basic policy.

Food and Eating Areas

It may be a step too far to stop eating at desks, especially as some people do work through their lunch to get that job finished for the boss. However, it’s good for mental health to leave the desk for a break so by having a designated eating area you will not only stop crumbs and food waste around the desk but be thinking of the wellbeing of the staff. The problem arises if it’s a small office and the luxury of these types of facilities do not exist.

Food storage is another issue that may need to be considered. Most staff at some point have dealt with some food going missing from the kitchen or the fridge. This can cause office staff to hoard food in their desk draws. This can attract all manner of pests depending on how well sealed the item is. This will be a consideration that you may have to take a decision on but is worth remembering.

Employing a Cleaner

There is a huge bonus to employing a cleaner. If you keep the tasks to the basics this can have a great effect on keeping infestations at bay. The best time to have a cleaner come in is immediately after work as night-time is when pests are at their liveliest. Emptying bins and hovering and mopping floors will remove all possible food sources if done correctly. On top of this a dishwasher that is switched on at the end of the day means no dirty dishes to feast on. This makes your office an undesirable place to be if you are a pest.

Office Staff

Your office staff can also play their part in the battle against the pest. Fault reporting on the building is extremely important and staff should be encouraged to do this as it may just pick out a problem that will stop a possible outbreak. Also reporting any sightings of anything such as a rodent in the bin area will help. Other ways they can help is activities such as mopping up spillages and cleaning up crumbs rather than brushing them on the floor will help. Just to put it into perspective a mouse eats only a gram of food for a meal which is nothing. A few crumbs are a meal for a mouse so this is very important.

Pest Control Contract

By engaging with a pest control company, you could have regular visits from a trained professional. They will place nontoxic monitoring stations and insect monitors with an allure on them to attract both rodents and insects if present. They will then be serviced and inspected on an agreed frequency such as every six weeks to identify any unseen pests that you are not aware of. The technician will give you advice on possible routes of entry, improvements that can be made such as bristle stripes on a door. Also, if you have a kitchen then an electric fly killer will normally be recommended. This will help to identify what flying insects are in the building.

Keeping the Building Well Maintained

It is recommended to keep the building maintained with regular inspections. It is an area that too often becomes neglected as there are no problems. No one likes to spend money on a tradesman to look for possible problems with the building. It is this proactive approach that will help to keep you pest free. As with most pest infestations, by the time you know about it is too late as the pests are well established.

Pest Control Inspection

If you have a pest control contract, they will advise you on the basic improvements that can be made to your office building. Procedures such as moving external bins away from the building and keeping outdoor spaces clear, clean, and free from rubbish are basic activities that will help. These types of activities will be recounted on the treatment report as part of the visit. Regular inspections will identify areas of possible ingress for rodents such as a broken air vent block or holes in the wall where cables enter the building. A technician will pinpoint concerns such as plants left to grow up the side of a building that act as a ladder for our little furry friends.

The list can go on when it comes to keeping your office free from pests. The above information is a guide to help businesses and office managers implement a plan to repel pests from the workplace. There can be no guarantees, however by applying the measures covered will give you the best chance to maintain a pest free environment.

If you require pest control in maidstone then be sure to canvas the local area to find a tried and trusted service provider, the incorrect research can be expensive and leave you needing further work to your office.