Food processing facilities, restaurants and kitchens are amongst the favorite places of many pests, including birds, rodents and insects. Unfortunately, pests can make it into your food facility in a number of ways. Whether there is a temperature shift outdoors, easy access to your facility or there is food attracting the pests, its wise to be mindful of the many ways a pest can and will attempt to gain entry to your food processing place of business.
While a commercial exterminator can help eliminate active pest populations and put measures in place to deter pests, it’s always better to keep pests out from the start. Here are just a few of the many common entryways that pests can infiltrate your kitchen, food preparation area or processing plant.
Deliveries & Packaging
If you are into the food business you’re likely receiving numerous deliveries from multiple vendors on a daily or a continuous basis. Pests can hitchhike on the raw material or in the food packaging arriving at your facility. Upon arrival at your facility it is important that you have a robust pest inspection mechanism for your deliveries. This simple step can help keep pests away while also keeping your vendors accountable and in-the-know about any contaminations or infested products so that they can look into how the problem occurred.
Unsealed Doors & Windows
Improperly fitted or functioning air doors and curtains can also provide an easy entryway for common commercial pests in your food facility. It is important that you put steps in place to frequently check whether the air doors and curtains are working properly. Ideally, the airflow should be directed toward the building’s exterior to help deter pests.
Dumpsters Chutes & Holdings
Another common way that pests can gain entrance to your food facility is through the chute to your dumpster compactor. If the opening and chute that runs from your facility to your dumpster is improperly sealed, any gaps or openings can easily allow pests to come and go as they please. In addition, if the dumpster is not regularly cleaned it can also provide an undisturbed breeding ground for certain pests, along with a regular supply of food to keep the population thriving. As with other entries and exits from the food processing areas, it is important that regular checks on the chute connection, seals, and the dumpster, are conducted regularly so that vulnerabilities can be addressed ASAP.
Mitigate Commercial Pests When You Partner with a Trusted Pest Control Company
Of course, these are only a few of the many different access points that could allows pests such as rats, mice, cockroaches, flies, birds or other problematic pests to gain entry to your food processing area or facility. The more proactive you can be in preventing access to the food storage and processing areas, the less costly and more manageable your pest mitigation efforts will be.
If, however, you need assistance putting preventative pest checks and balances in place, Smithereen Pest Management can help you establish and perform an integrated approach to pest management in your facility and help restore normal operations, sans pests.