How to keep your business safe!

When cockroaches move into your kitchen and threaten your business it is time to take action.

The presence of cockroaches is a health hazard and a serious problem for any business serving or preparing food for the consumption of the general public.

This article takes a look at how you can work with your pest control contractor to get rid of this menace without delay.

Why are cockroaches so dangerous?

Cockroaches carry a number of serious diseases including several types of food poisoning.  Because they are attracted to human food sources they will inevitably contaminate stored food in any kitchen where they are present.

For this reason, cockroaches must be eradicated from any premises serving food to the public.  Failure to do so is likely to result in your business being closed down by the local authority.

As soon as you suspect you may have a cockroach problem, call your local pest control contractor,  you are unlikely to be successful in dealing with this problem without expert assistance.

A team effort

Eradicating and preventing the recurrence of cockroaches needs to be a team effort.

Your pest control contractor will apply appropriate insecticides to kill the cockroaches, but you will need to take steps to make sure that he has proper access to apply the chemicals effectively, and to prevent re-infestation of the problem in the future.

The importance of ‘house-keeping’ and maintenance

An uncluttered, well maintained,  and well ordered kitchen is half the battle to defeating cockroaches.  These insects hide in cracks and crevices,  so keep your walls, floors, cupboards, and worksurfaces in a good state of repair.

Keep all food in sealed containers to prevent the cockroaches feeding on and contaminating your food supplies.

Preventing re-infestation

Your pest control contractor cannot guarantee that you won’t be re-infested quite soon after your infestation has been dealt with. You will need to consider how you are going to prevent a re-infestation.

Cockroaches normally get into a previously clear kitchen inside food supplies. If you keep being re-infested, try and trace the source so that you can avoid this supplier in the future.

Cockroach eggs can sometimes be ‘walked’ in on peoples shoes. If a member of your staff has a cockroach problem at home, this is a possible source of infection.

Other sources can be neighbouring buildings. If you have other food outlets next to yours it is worth encouraging them to have their premises treated at the same time. Treating a whole building is more effective than treating just a part of it.

Cockroaches are attracted to places where they can smell other cockroaches have been, even after the other cockroaches have been removed.

So it is important to clean very thoroughly once your infestation has been cleared, and to keep your  kitchen surfaces scrupulously clean in the future.

A servicing contract

One of your best defences against re-infestation by cockroaches and other pests that can threaten your business is an annual pest control servicing contract.

Regular routine checks and monitoring are likely to spot a problem before it becomes a disaster, and your efforts to be diligent in keeping your premises clear of pests will stand you in good stead with your Environmental Health Officer.

Follow professional advice

Cockroaches are difficult to kill because of their life cycle and habits.  Follow this link to find out more about the biology of the cockroach. It may take several visits from your pest controller before a cockroach infestation is under control.

Your pest control contractor will give you advice on helping to clear your infestation and prevent further problems.  Following his advice will help you keep your business free from the threat of closure, and solve your problem as rapidly as possible.

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