Rodent management for commercial and food production facilities
Audits of rodent control activity in the food industry are critical in order to verify compliance with strict food safety standards and HACCP programs. Inspectors rigorously evaluate pest control activities in order to prevent cross-contamination, stop production shutdowns, and protect diseases carried and transferred by rodent droppings, urine, and hair.
Auditors evaluate these facilities based on several specific criteria to ensure effective and thorough pest exclusion and monitoring:
- Exclusion & Proofing: Check for gaps around doors, windows, pipes, and wires. Mice can squeeze through openings as wide as you a finger. Be aware of rub-marks and hairs and fill in any holes where activity is noted.
- Device Management: Review the placement and maintenance of exterior tamper-proof bait stations and internal non-toxic traps (like snap traps or glue boards). Remove those devices if no activity is noted and move to more active areas.
- Bait Mapping: Ensure that there is an accurate, up-to-date site map that labels all of your pest control devices.
- Hygiene & Sanitation: Assess and action waste management, cleaning schedules, and clutter around storage areas that attract and harbor rodents.
Auditors require comprehensive records and documentation, including:
- Service Reports: Exact dates of service visits, specific pest activity noted, and chemicals or controls used.
- Trending & Corrective Actions: Evidence that pest sightings are trended and that preventive, actionable steps are taken to address any issues.
- Sighting Logs: Your customer should maintain a log of any pest sightings by their employees and any follow-up actions by you.
- Electronic Monitoring: Consider bait stations that incorporate an integrated sensor for detecting, reporting and timestamping rodent activity at that station.
- Chemical Compliance: Records of approved food-safe pest control products, including updated risk assessments regarding restrictions on Second-Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs).
