Pinpointing Pests at Commercial Accounts

When you’ve inspected commercial accounts for more than 40 years, you learn how to do them correctly. At one time, I was responsible for examining more than 1 billion cu. ft. of space in a given year. I refer to cubic feet because I wasn’t inspecting floors only. You have to look up, down and around. If you try to look at the area all at once, it’s like eating a thick sandwich in one bite. You’ll choke to death.

Before you take your first physical steps into these accounts, ask these questions to obtain the most pertinent information in the least amount of time:

1. What internal and external audits are done, and by whom? Look at the last two reports to see what concerns might exist.
2. Are employees unionized? If so, you have to comply by union rules. Find out whether you’ll be allowed to open an employee locker, for example.
3. re there any special safety issues? Asbestos concerns and ladder requirements are two common examples.
4. Are there any current construction projects? If so, where?
5. Can someone get you the specs of the facility? Do simple maps delineating different areas exist?
6. What are the customers’ concerns about pests and problem areas? Remember, history has a way of repeating itself.
7. How is the account divided in terms of employees? For example, in the health area, there might be staff from the administration, housekeeping, maintenance, nursing and dietary departments.
8. Who are the key supervisors in each area? To whom do you report?
9. What areas are especially vulnerable? See box below for more details.
10. What languages are spoken at this account? You need to know this to ensure you can contact the right people to communicate your observations. I envy people who can speak three or four different languages.

The vulnerability factor

Commercial accounts, and food warehouses particularly, can be more vulnerable in some areas than others. Find out the following at your account to discover its weak spots and build its strengths against pests:

1. What type of packaging is used, and how high it is allowed to be stacked?
2. Are temperature-control areas involved?
3. What’s the First In, First Out (FIFO) policy for products? Which materials sit more than 30, 60 or even 90 days?
4. Where are the monitoring and control devices? Does the client have this mapped, and if so, can you receive a copy? This includes insect light traps (ILTs), pheromone traps and rodent control devices.
5. Do you have access to pest activity data on each control device?
6. In which days is the facility in operation? Is it a 24-hour cycle, or are there shutdowns? This helps explain why different insects are found in ILTs.
7. What’s the flow pattern of materials within the structure? Toilet paper, fluorescent bulbs and trash cans, for example. Learn the flow pattern of people, too.
8. Where are you allowed to park your vehicle on the premises?
9. What’s the cleaning schedule for each area? Ask about details. Include upper ledges, forklifts, clocks on the wall, storage areas, etc.
10. If food is involved, is there a reject-and-rework area? If so, where?
11. What are the air current directions? Some buildings are inadvertently designed to pull in insects.
12. Were there any considerable pipe breaks, roof leaks or sewer backups?