3 ways to prepare for pest management
Pest control should be preventive with a flexible, reactive component. By placing emphasis on prevention, facility managers can avoid expensive cleanup of infested areas, thus improving operations and processes. In other words, the less time spent reacting to pest problems, the more resources will be available for other important tasks.
Here are three ways to prepare your facility for pest management:
1. Create a plan for outdoor pests
Pest management strategies often focus on keeping unwanted creatures away from the indoor areas of facilities, but a comprehensive solution should also attempt to reduce the number of pests on the facility's outdoor areas, as well. Pests that make their home on and around trees, shrubbery and flowering plants are likely to end up inside if they get too close to the building envelope.
Facility managers who seek to create a pest-free environment would do well to develop a management strategy that takes into account indoor and outdoor infestations. This is especially important when it comes to managing bird pests. Because they are larger than other nuisances, birds can make a huge mess in a short amount of time.
Planning for pest infestations ahead of time will help your facility avoid awkward situations. For example, The Seattle Times reported that local businesses have turned to pest management companies that specialize in the "mechanical extraction" of pigeons, starlings and sparrows. In this case, the phrase is a euphemism for eliminating birds with a high-powered pellet gun. Such methods, though occasionally necessary, may harm the public reputation of the facility. Preventive measures such as strategically placed barbed wire can keep bird pests from nesting on facility properties in the first place.
2. Integrate indoor pest management policies
Integrated pest management strategies utilize a holistic approach meant to prevent infestations and react quickly when those prevention plans fail. Effective IPM necessitates the involvement of every member of the organization. For instance, an integral component of IPM is trash management. Trash containers kept too close to the building can serve as an easy route inside. Therefore, containers need to be kept a safe distance from the building.
Tactics like the one mentioned above form the basis of IPM. Food Quality and Safety magazine noted that the strategies should begin with a round of analysis and identification so that facility managers can treat problem areas in order of importance. At the same time, managers can institute preventative solutions to avoid future infestations.
3. Audit pest management costs
Your facility's IPM strategy should have measurable goals and objectives. By auditing your current pest management spend, you can identify areas in need of improvement and craft an effective pest management plan.
A good metric to monitor is how much your facility spends on reactionary management. If this number seems high, you can look for ways to prevent future incidents from happening, thus reducing asset downtime and improving employee health.
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