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Often It’s What You Don’t See That Can Hurt Your Operation
By Pat Copps, Technical Services Manager, Orkin Inc.
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With the record snowfalls experienced by folks in the Mid-Atlantic States
this past week, I am reminded of an inspection visit that I made several
years ago to a small Midwestern food processing facility during the winter
season. There had been a heavy snowfall for the two days prior to my visit.
However, on the day of the inspection, the roads were clear and the plant
was in full operation.
The operations manager accompanied me, and the first hour of the inspection
was uneventful. Then we passed from the processing area into the packaging
room. As is my habit, I typically do a quick visual check of the area –
including the ceiling – every time I enter a new part of a facility. In this
case, the room was bustling with activity as several employees worked
diligently alongside conveyors and packing equipment. All was as it should
be, except no one had noticed that the roof had partially collapsed due to
the heavy snowfall. Wood support beams and insulation bats were hanging
precariously from the ceiling 30 feet above the packaging lines. It looked
like the entire roof was about to give way at any moment. I immediately
alerted the operations manager, and production was stopped and the area
evacuated. Several days later, after repairs were completed, operations were
resumed.
Being focused on the task at hand is critical, but it’s always important to
pay attention to the trees as well as the forest. The same is true for your
pest management program. Make sure that your employees are involved and are
on the lookout for anything unusual like a collapsing roof or evidence of
pest activity or conditions that could lead to pest infestation.
Top 8 conditions (with recommended fixes) that can encourage pest activity:
- Weeds, heavy mulch and thick landscaping around the perimeter of a structure will encourage pest activity. Install a 30-inch wide gravel strip around the perimeter of your building. The open space can help prevent rodents from approaching – rats and mice prefer to stay near covered spaces. The uneven surface of the gravel also will pose an obstacle to crawling insects.
- Trim trees and bushes so the limbs are at least 2-feet from the sides of your building or the roof. Again, this reduces cover for rodents, while also eliminating a way for pests to climb onto your building.
- Look for and eliminate any sources of moisture that may be on or
adjacent to your property. Virtually all pests are attracted by the
ready availability of water from poorly draining areas, leaking
irrigation sprinklers, hose bibs or similar sources.
- Reduce clutter and pest harborage around the facility by keeping “boneyard” storage to a minimum and storing all materials on racks at least 25’ away from exterior walls.
- Review your trash handling procedures at least annually. Ensure compactors and trash bins are kept clean and that access doors and lids are closed when not in use.
- Use sodium vapor lights outside since these are less attractive to flying insects than mercury vapor or incandescent lighting.
- As you review and update your facility maintenance efforts during the year, remember that small changes around your facility can have a big impact. General weathering of your building can result in leaky roofs or hairline cracks in walls that enlarge over time, and changes to employee entrances and exits doors can attract pests. A vigilant facility maintenance program can help discourage pest activity.
- Install plastic strip curtains, roll-up screen doors or add a second set of doors to provide additional protection in high traffic areas. Double door systems/vestibules can minimize the number of insects entering your facility by as much as 50 percent. Both automatic roll-up screens and plastic strip curtains will help prevent pest entry through overhead doors.
Pat Copps is a
board-certified entomologist in urban and industrial entomology and has more
than 30 years of experience in the industry. Along the way, he has earned
distinctions as a licensed operator in pest control, a Qualified Applicator
and a Registered Food Safety Instructor (NRA). Pat is an excellent resource
on mosquito control and "green" pest management, among other topics. For
article feedback, contact Pat at: PCopps@rollins.com
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