How To Identify And Address High-Risk Areas At Your Facility

Pests are incredibly resilient in their search for food, water, and shelter. For food processing and handling managers, this often means your facility is a prime target for crawling critters of all kinds. It’s crucial to identify and protect the specific areas of your property that are at risk to prevent unwanted invaders. Here are the top 5 most vulnerable areas of your business and how to fortify each of them against pests.

Landscaping

• Food Sources: Fruit-bearing trees, sweet-smelling flowers, nuts, and seeds are highly attractive to pests. Minimize these and trim back any branches within a meter of your facility.
• Ground Cover: Avoid planting dense ground-covering vines and shrubs as they provide shelter and nesting grounds for pests.
• Watering Practices: Do not overwater; this can lead to puddling and soil saturation, creating breeding grounds for midges, fungal gnats, and mosquitoes.

Garbage and Recycling Areas

• Sanitation: Dumpsters, garbage bins, and waste disposal zones are pest havens. Maintain a strict sanitation schedule.
  • Empty bins regularly and avoid overflowing.
  • Clean and line bins after emptying each time.
  • Drain or rinse recycling bottles and cans before placing them in bins.
  • Keep dumpsters as far from the building and entrances as possible.
  • Implement an odor control program during summer to reduce pest attraction.

Windows and Doors

• Entry Points: Open windows and doors provide easy access for pests.
  • Keep windows closed and consider air curtains for all perimeter doors to create positive air pressure that pushes pests out.
  • Seal any cracks and crevices around windows and ensure door frames and seals are in good condition.

Roof

• Access Points: Birds, carpenter ants, rodents, and raccoons can enter through the roof.
  • Trim back any overhanging tree branches.
  • Flat rooftops can hold water, providing breeding spots for midges and mosquitoes. Ensure proper drainage.
  • Facilities processing sweet-smelling products, like candies, should ensure rooftop vents are insect-proofed to prevent wasp entry.

Storage Areas

• Inspection and Cleaning: Storage areas are particularly susceptible to pest invasion due to infrequent cleaning.
  • Inspect packages at the loading dock before moving them to storage.
  • Use open-backed shelves to reduce pest hiding spots.
  • Schedule regular cleanings, promptly clean spills, and eliminate clutter.

Additional Areas to Monitor

• Other At-Risk Areas: Actively monitor parking lots, drainage areas, lighting fixtures, walls, and equipment for pest activity.
• Limit Attractants: To prevent pests from showing up, limit the exposure of raw ingredients (e.g., cereals, seeds, nuts, dried fruits, and preserved meats), clean up spills quickly, eliminate excess moisture, and watch for pests seeking shelter in overhanging structures.

Consult with a Pest Management Professional

Beyond these tips, it’s wise to consult with a pest management professional who practices Integrated Pest Management (IPM). This holistic approach helps prevent pest activity while reducing the need for chemical treatments. Following expert advice and working with a trusted professional is the best strategy for keeping your food processing facility safe and profitable year-round.

Want to learn more about protecting your food processing facility from pests? Read a detailed tip sheet from Orkin Canada here.