Having rodent and rat infestations in your food processing facility is one of the biggest challenges to overcome when it comes to maintaining optimal food security. There is no second thought in the fact that every year commensal rodents (rats and mice) cause noteworthy damage / loss to the food supply globally. As per some reports, it has been estimated that rodents held responsible for destroying around 20% of the global crop production annually. Some global companies are already using rodent monitoring devices for tracing rats, monitoring their activities, and adopting preventive measures to get rid of them.
Apart from the monetary losses, rodents also carry a lot of diseases which possesses serious health risks to people who consume the tainted foods. In order to ensure that your business doesn’t bear any losses because of rodent infestations at your facility, you should take necessary steps to keep them away. Rodent management should be a part of your overall integrated pest management program and you should install a technically-advanced rodent monitoring system to keep your premises monitored all year round and be alerted to activities of these tiny creatures.
Read the sections below to practice preventive measures at your facility to keep infections away:
- Maintain grounds around buildings
Planting bushesand shrubbery next to food supply storage facilities keep these tiny creatures at bay. Do not plant ground crawling plants or fruits / nuts vegetation to eliminate food sources for rodents. Trim down the vegetation and plants, if you have any, to eliminate hiding spaces.
- Make proper arrangements for garbage and ensure optimal housekeeping
Create a Master Cleaning Schedule (MCS) to clean outside grounds and production equipment regularly. This will prevent frequent damages and ensures that the property look de-cluttered. Cleaning your facility regularly ensures that garbage, windblown debris, spillage or leakages are being taken care of. You can also invest in purchasing rodent-proof garbage cans and place them in strategic areas such as external employee-break areas, parking areas, smoking zones and others. You can follow these tips to create an efficient MCS:
- Pest-proof the facility by installing a smart rodent monitoring system
- Seal all holes and gaps
- Use gnaw-proof materials like sheet metal, iron grills, perforated metal, hardware cloth and cement mortar, wherever applicable
- Seal all cracks, voids, crevices and gaps under pipes, doors and windows
- Seal HVAC units on roofs
- Ensure that floor drains are properly covered and should not have openings smaller than ¼ inch.
- Spend some funds on having facility borders
Install a paved or rock border around the perimeter of the facility to ensure that you make necessary arrangements for preventing rodent entry to your premises. Speak with the builder and recommend him/her to get a border that is at least 6 inches deep and 36 inches wide.
In addition to this, you should pay attention while moving stored materials, furniture and equipment to other places. Ensure proper cleaning and sanitation at your facility to leave no space for rodents to hide and multiply themselves.
If you are unable to handle the situation on your own, then simply give a call to a reliable rodent management company and ask them to install rodent monitoring devices across your facility. This will not only help you to trace their presence and activities but will also help in taking appropriate measures for controlling their population.