Managers of hospitals, long-term care facilities, emergency medical care centers, and physical or mental rehabilitation facilities confront numerous obstacles in maintaining the greatest standard of sanitation while caring for vulnerable people.
Keeping the facility pest control is one of these issues since pests represent a range of health risks by spreading bacteria and contaminating surfaces, medical supplies, and equipment.
Pest infestation risk factors rise as a facility’s size grows – larger kitchens, more food served, more restrooms, and more guests, to name a few. Other considerations include the health of the populations housed in the facilities and the decision-makers’ organizational complexity.
Understanding how pests get entrance, which bugs are the most problematic, where infestations are most likely to occur, and how to prevent them is the best strategy to avoid a pest problem.
Entry-level risks
Pests that enter from the immediate surroundings, those that are within the structure. And those that are carried into the institution by staff via clothing, food, flowers, can all cause pest problems in health facilities. While it may be difficult to prevent pests from entering the business through visits, training all employees about pest control can help.
First and foremost, facility managers must take exclusionary measures to prevent pests from entering through the immediate environment. Facility access doors, for example, should be kept closed at all times and constructed to reduce or prohibit the ingress of flying pests.
Facilities managers should also keep in mind that colder weather tends to drive many pests indoors, including rats. This usually happens through utility openings or loading dock doors, as well as vegetation grown adjacent to buildings, such as shrubs or trees. Rodents can’t get to the top levels, windows, or roof if the landscaping isn’t kept up.
Cockroaches and flies seeking moisture can easily be attracted to a badly maintained plumbing system. Clogged bathroom and kitchen drains, as well as any pipes with leaks or humidity, can be a concern. Cockroaches, flies, and rodents cannot spread throughout a facility unless clogs are cleared, floor drains are fastened, and access points surrounding pipes are caulked.
Food deliveries are another common entry point for pests. As a result, establishing food movement protocols across the plant is an important part of an overall pest control management programmer. Employees in the food service industry, for example, should inspect all food delivery for pests or evidence of pests, such as droppings or damaged packaging and food. Food should be provided in cardboard boxes, which should be broken down and destroyed as soon as possible.
Furthermore, stored food items should be kept on shelves, away from the walls and off the floor. Kitchen personnel should inspect such food items at least twice a month and notify facilities professionals if they notice any signs of an infestation. Kitchen workers should also make sure that the surfaces of the kitchen, as well as the areas under shelves and appliances, are clean and free of food debris and dampness.
Finally, pests such as bedbugs can be carried on people’s clothing, in their bags and purses, and in their laundry. It is especially vital to educate laundry and cleaning personnel in order to detect problems before a serious infestation takes hold.
Pest control that is proactive
Pest control and prevention are inextricably linked to the general safety and sanitation of health-care facilities. Rather, it must be considered as essential to the achievement of these objectives.
Establishing a successful professional pest control management programmer is an investment in the health of patients and employees.
The advantages of a professional pest control management programmer frequently outweigh the costs. And the proactive preventive measures put in place may save the facility money in the long term.
Professionals working in health-care facilities should consider the following suggestions
Every level of health-care staff, as well as every area of the facility, is involved in a successful pest-prevention endeavor. The following are some frequent ideas collected from the National Pest control Management Association:
- Locate and remove moisture sources in various plumbing areas, such as leaking pipes and clogged drains.
- Keep food properly packaged and stored, especially in kitchens and cafeterias.
- Keep high-traffic areas clean, such as public eating, where food scraps, are more likely to accumulate on a daily basis.
- Garbage should be disposed of on a regular basis and stored in sealed containers or dumpsters.
- Before storing food delivery boxes in the kitchen, inspect them.
- Maintain a dry and well-ventilated storage place.
- Seal any cracks or holes on the outside of the building, especially utility and pipe entrance points.
- Repair deteriorated external wood on buildings since some insects are attracted to it.
- Repair loose mortar and weather stripping around the base and lower-level windows.
- Look for rodent droppings in locations that haven’t been disturbed, such as closets and storage spaces.
- Any vegetation, such as plants, should be removed and kept at least two feet away from the buildings.
- Check for obstructions in the kitchen drains as well as under equipment like refrigerators and freezers on a regular basis.
- Always keep all entryways locked and never propped open, especially in loading docks.
- Instead of fluorescent lights, use sodium vapor lamps around the immediate exterior of the institution. Which tend to attract flying insects. If fluorescent lights must be used, they must be installed at least 100 feet away from structures.
By these instruction you can easily handle pest control problem.
