FEATURE PEST CONTROL STRATEGIC PEST MANAGEMENT Strategic Pest Management has become more relevant over the past 10 years in the pest control industry. This is mainly due to the number of changes in pesticides used, legislation changes, increases in pesticide resistance and greater awareness. Emprise explain more A strategic approach to pest control can be a good long-term investment for an organisation delivering many efficiencies, including cost savings, reduced downtime and lessening the impact on an organisation. It can also help manage reputation - an organisation with a pest problem is in danger of damaging its image and potentially losing business. EXCLUSION: Identify vulnerable areas of your building(s) where pests may access. Implement good delivery policies and close doors. RESTRICTION: Understand how the pests are getting into the building. Make sure you have a ‘good housekeeping’ policy. Close off/repair these areas, for example, gaps in floors, walls and doors. 10 MARCH 2016 DESTRUCTION: Treat the areas infected as well as the rest of the building. Use holistic methods where possible as pests are becoming more resistant to traditional pesticides. MONITORING: Pre-allocate a monthly budget. Create a schedule for on-going planned monitoring. Awareness and training to spot early signs of infestations. When used, the ERDM approach is the most cost effective and efficient way of managing integrated pest management. The reality is that in most instances pest control organisations don’t get involved until it reaches the destruction level and there is an issue needing urgent attention and which is often considerably more expensive to treat. At this stage, pest controllers recommend proofing and blitz treatments, which help to get the situation to a manageable level where it can be controlled. Afterwards, more frequent visits will be required to make sure the problem is monitored and does not get to a destructive level again. Having an integrated pest management plan in place gives the client peace of mind that if something does happen or is ongoing, it can be dealt with. It also provides regular communication between the pest controller and client rather than having to do everything at once at a greater cost. Instead, things can be implemented over a period of time which is manageable and cost effective. Your pest control provider should be making recommendations on actions going forward. This can be basic, for example keeping an eye on foliage around the building - particularly in the summer months, as when it is in full flow these are ideal harbourages for rodents. Or it can be information on housekeeping, hygiene, proofing and good practices to try and prevent future problems.
CHT March 2016
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