Pest Control and Facility Sanitation
What you must understand
Pests carry pathogens and signal sanitation failures. The three essentials of pest control are deny entry, deny food and water, and deny shelter. Seal gaps and cracks, keep doors closed and screened, install door sweeps, and repair leaks. Store food in sealed containers, keep garbage covered and emptied often, and clean up spills promptly. Remove clutter and cardboard, which harbor roaches and rodents.
Know the signs. Rodents leave droppings, gnaw marks, and grease trails. Cockroaches leave egg cases, droppings, and a musty odor and hide in warm, dark, damp places. Flies breed in garbage and organic waste. If you see signs, report them and contact a licensed pest control operator; do not use pesticides in food areas yourself.
Facility sanitation includes clean floors, walls, ceilings, and drains; adequate lighting; proper ventilation; and a working handwashing sink stocked with soap and towels. Keep restrooms and locker rooms separate from food areas. Cover and store garbage outside. Maintain a cleaning schedule and log.
Traps to watch
Questions often ask who may apply pesticides; only a licensed operator in a food facility. Do not say a pest sighting is harmless if food is covered; it must be reported. Do not confuse pest control with the use of traps only; exclusion and sanitation come first.
Rule of thumb
If a question describes droppings, gnaw marks, or a musty odor, answer pest evidence and report it. For prevention, remember the three denials: entry, food and water, shelter.