More and more industries are adopting the strict regulations and standards that have traditionally been exclusive to the food processing industry. Even if they are just implementing internal audits, it’s a step in the right direction. Nobody ever said we really should get less serious about our pest control, after all. So, whether you’re a facility manager at an actual food processing plant or you’re the person that handles the pest control at a hotel, a warehouse, a restaurant, or any other business, always being ready for an audit or inspection will not only put you ahead of the game, but it will help you stay in control. But how do you stay ready? The experts at Waltham Pest Services have the answers.
Be Prepared
When it comes to performing an internal audit or inspection, being prepared is half the battle. Although inspections or audits should be done unexpectedly so they can catch where there are any holes in your processes or where someone may be slacking, if you think like one could be coming at any time, you will always be ready for it. You can even have your pest control partner perform an audit for you so will be legitimately surprised and you can truly assess the success of your pest control plan. Whether you do it yourself or not, here are the best ways to be prepared:
- Proper Documentation: Are you and your pest control provider noting every pest sighting, every visit, every inspection and the results of each inspection, and every pest control product or strategy that is being used at your building? Not only will you fail an internal audit for not having proper documentation, but you will never know what’s being done, how it’s working, and what can be fixed or altered in the future for better pest control success. So, make sure you have not only a dedicated logbook that is being updated accordingly, but that it’s accessible to all who need it – any time they need it.
- Solid Plan: What’s your pest control plan? Do you even have one? Does everyone know what that plan entails? Is there buy-in from every level of management on it? If you can’t answer any or all of those questions, then you probably don’t have a solid plan in place. Having a well-documented pest control plan outlining the strategies being used, the steps in the processes, and who will be participating in that plan can mean the plan itself will be more successful. And don’t forget to include your other vendors – not just your pest control partner. The sanitation crew, electricians, plumbers – they are all part of the plan. Make sure they know it. And make sure your plan is literally written down.
- Share Results: If this is your first internal audit, you won’t have this. But after your first one, you should always have the results of every audit you’ve performed on hand with the most recent one at the top. Not only should it be part of your documents (see #1!), but you should also include any corrective actions that were taken as a result of the outcome of your audit. Both the results and the corrective actions should be shared with management, your vendors, and any staff that could be affected. This level of transparency can go a long way with everyone involved, but it will also be integral in making the right choices for ultimate pest control success. Sharing your results can also help streamline services and possibly save you money down the road.
What Now?
Performing an internal audit is just the first step. What you do with the findings of the audit is the most important part. Here are a few strategies to help in areas that can hurt your audit scores (or make you fail it entirely!):
Excess Water: Should your inspection notice water on the floor, leaky pipes, or just excessive humidity that is causing moisture where it shouldn’t be, take corrective actions immediately. Bring in your plumber to assess and then remedy leaks or cracks. Make sure seals around pipes have not degraded over time and try dehumidifiers to keep it dryer in your building. Pests are only after three things after all: food, shelter – and moisture. And they don’t need much of it to survive. So, if there’s moisture where there shouldn’t be in your building, you can expect roaches, ants, mice, and more to be attracted to it. And once they’re in, they can certainly multiply. Take away one of those three things they’re looking for and they will look elsewhere. If you do employ any of these tactics, write them down in the results section of your audit logbook and physically add them to your pest control plan to make sure they are consistently done in the future.
Trash Areas: If your audit/inspection turned up pests buzzing or crawling around your trash areas, you may need to up your sanitation game. Make sure dumpsters and trash cans are not only tightly sealed, but they are cleaned and sanitized on a regular basis. Bring in a pest control company that can provide you with a trash chute, compactor, and trash areas cleaning program that will use professional products and sanitize even the out-of-sight trash and organic build-up areas that you may not see, but pests like cockroaches and rats can certainly smell. Add another trash pick-up day to your rotation if your audit turned up overflowing trash areas that can not only attract pests like yellow jackets and flies but can be the perfect breeding grounds for them. Make sure staff knows to clean up after themselves and not leave open food in desks, lockers, breakrooms, etc. And, again, document the issues and the actions taken to fix in your logbook. Always document it.
Cracks & Crevices: Rats only need a hole the size of a quarter to squeeze through and mice? They only need a hole the size of a dime! Now consider how small ants, spiders, cockroaches, flies, etc. are and a small tear in a window screen becomes a much bigger deal than you originally thought. A thorough inspection or audit should site and report cracks, holes, tears, etc. that need to be fixed. A handyman or your facility manager should caulk cracks (don’t forget the seals around pipes), fill in holes, and repair tears immediately. Have door sweeps installed so it’s harder for tiny pests to crawl under and in. And be sure your staff isn’t propping doors open or leaving dock/loading areas open longer than needed. And, of course, write down anything you’ve done, or it may as well not even happened.
Pick the Right Partner
The vendors you choose can make or break your business and therefore make or break your audit. So, make sure you’re choosing a trusted, local expert that will truly partner with you. The experts at Waltham Pest Services know what it takes to help businesses protect their people, operations, reputation, and facilities through personalized, science-based pest management built around prevention, responsiveness, and lasting results.
And longevity matters when you consider the amount of experience a company that’s over 130 years old brings with them. Since 1893, Waltham has partnered with businesses in New England to solve pest problems with local expertise, proven science, and personal attention. They bring with them licensed technicians backed by Board Certified Entomologists to do more than just control pests. They identify risks, uncover the conditions contributing to pest activity, and build a program around the specific needs of each facility. It’s a more holistic way to look at your pest control plan and therefore just a more successful strategy to begin with.
Pest control in a commercial environment is about more than just removing pests. It’s about helping employees feel safe, protecting customers and residents, supporting regulatory and audit requirements, reducing operational disruptions, and giving business leaders confidence that their facilities are protected. That’s why a one-size-fits-all approach never works. The team at Waltham will listen, inspect, explain, create a customized plan, document (there’s that word again), and stay engaged until the problem is solved correctly. Every program Waltham implements is supported by dependable service, clear communication, proven expertise, and a satisfaction guarantee. At the end of the day, you need a partner that protects what matters most: your business, your reputation, and the people who make it thrive. That’s the approach Waltham takes and the approach you should expect from all your vendors – not just your pest control provider.
Final Takeaway
The most important part of inspections and audits is that you never stop doing them. Long gone are the days of checking pest control off your list. Not only are companies constantly adding new technologies and services that can be added to your plan, but the moment you think you’re done is the moment you’ve lost to the pests. Keep springing audits on your staff. Keep applying corrective actions. And we may have mentioned it before, but we will say it again: keep documenting it all. Staying on top of your pest control plan can only bring good things for your business, but only if you have the right partners to help make it all happen. So, choose your vendors carefully and only bring in the experts in their fields. And, by the way – audit your vendors, too. Don’t get too comfortable with them. Hold them accountable and expect greatness. A true partner would expect nothing less.