Tips to be pests free in your hospitality industry

Effective and timely pest prevention and control is crucial in pest management and eradication. Few issues and problems pose greater threats to a successful restaurant or hospitality outlet, then unwanted pests. Whether it is smaller pests or bigger rodent problems, pests in hospitality settings can be detrimental and could possibly result in heavy fines or foreclosure of the business. For example, one negative review or encounter with a pest on your premises could result in serious financial consequences and losses for everyone involved in the business, including employees and business owners.

Therefore, having an integrated and comprehensive pest management plan and strategy in your workplace can go a long way for the business. So how does one attain a pest free outlet or environment? Ali Ghafoor, A.M.G Pest Management CEO shares four top tips to help any business, have a pest free environment and avoid nasty pests, as well as food safety breaches.

1. Regular and comprehensive pest management: This means rather than ‘spot treating’ pest problems, having an integrated pest management approach and strategy. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an individually tailored and monitored approach for your business, aimed at identifying, preventing, managing, and controlling pest infestation all year round. This means regular inspections, monitoring and treatment. IPM can also help your business save money by reducing unnecessary demand of pesticides, callouts and aims to address pest problems before they start.
2. Housekepping and safe practices: Investing in extra cleaning hours and housekeeping is highly effective in ensuring a pest-free environment that addressing pest is everyone’s role and responsibility. One helpful step in introducing a cleaner environment is by rostering and dedicating cleaning functions and schedules. For example, hiring a junior staff member to carry out additional cleaning, such as under appliances, walls and general tidy up in addition to regular cleaning activities. This extra set of eyes can pick up things possibly missed by others.
3. Responding to pest problems promptly and effectively: At the very first sign of pest problems, address it. Invest in regular pest management and call in the experts. Sometimes simply avoiding the problem will not make it better and you could have much bigger problems at the end. Upscale pest management plans if required and until the infestation is under control.
4. Staff training and mentoring: Pest management is more than chemical treatments or pesticides. Sometimes training the workforce in key areas, such as: i) effects of pest problems on the business (financially and operationally), ii) individual roles and responsibilities around pest detection, reporting and control and iii) knowing the signs of pest infestation and control, can significantly help in addressing your pest problems. Pest management should be everyone’s responsibility and not just a pest control technicians’ when called to address active problems.

In summary, ineffective pest management could be costly and detrimental for a business, its staff and business owner. Effective pest management should be imbedded into the business strategic plan and forecast. More importantly pest prevention, control and management requires a holistic and integrated team and organizational approach. For more information about effective and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy for your business visit our website: www.amgpest.com.au