Clark Commercial Blog – January 2022
There are many resolutions that commercial property and facility managers can make toward continuously improving their pest management programs. Topping that list? Resolving to take a proactive approach.
Getting ahead of behavioral and operational issues – sanitation and cleaning, structural repairs, and employee/tenant training and education – is key to keeping commercial properties pest free.
A missing door sweep, a tenant not properly disposing of trash, a crack in a slab floor in the production area, or a missed cleaning on a piece of processing equipment can lead to an unwanted – and costly – pest infestation.
Focus on exclusion
If pests can’t gain access to your commercial property, then you’re ahead of the game. Close up openings on the bottom of exterior-loading dock and entry doors. Replace worn weatherstripping around windows. Fill openings in the foundation – including areas where utility, telephone, or cable wires enter – with sturdy, weather-proof materials.
Install screens on ventilation openings and windows to keep pests, including birds, out. Don’t forget to check the roof for openings around HVAC units, skylights, and the roofline. Look up, down, and around when identifying pest access points that need correction. Clark’s highly trained and licensed technicians can work with your maintenance staff or perform the needed exclusion services.
Commit to sanitation and cleaning
An effective cleaning program is a formalized, documented process, not just pouring a chemical onto a surface, wiping it around, and declaring that the surface has been cleaned, disinfected, and sanitized. That won’t cut it.
For sanitation and cleaning protocols to be effective, they must be done consistently, but also done correctly. That is why a documented program is a must-have, because it will allow you to measure the effectiveness of your efforts with room for corrections.
Address behavioral and structural issues
Behavioral and structural issues can promote conditions that are conducive for pests. Have maintenance crews promptly fix any structural, sanitation, or behavioral issues, then document what was done and whether it delivered the desired result.
Educating employees and residents on the vital role they play in preventing pest issues is an important part of the process. If they know how to report signs of pests or pest activity, and they understand why sanitation and cleaning, or taking simple actions like closing doors and windows or keeping dumpster lids closed, they can contribute to creating a pest-free living or work environment.
Communicate, communicate, communicate
Communicate with your pest management services provider – what are you seeing, what are your concerns and requirements – and ask the same of them. Share your vision, expectations, and specific requirements. An effective pest management program is a collaborative effort.
Understand your investment
Commercial clients must weigh the cost of not acting to prevent or eliminate a rodent or cockroach problem. It costs much less to prevent a pest issue than to react to one once it has become established.
The threat of product recalls, failed audits, reputational damage, or legal action from clients – not to mention the potential danger to consumers, who may purchase and consume tainted food products caused by bacteria-laden pests – speak loudly for resolving to maintain a regular pest management program.
Clark Pest Control is committed to safeguarding your business or commercial property from pests during these challenging times. Our service technicians use such personal protective equipment as gloves, masks, and respirators, they practice social distancing, and they adhere strictly to all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines when servicing inside or outside your home.
If your commercial property demands innovative pest management solutions and a pest management partner that understands your business, call Clark Pest Control at (800) 936-3339.