The Importance of Annual Reviews in Building Stronger Pest Control Programs

Managing pests in a commercial environment is never a “set it and forget it” process. Facilities evolve, production cycles shift, pest pressure points move, and regulatory expectations change. That is why an annual review of your pest control program is one of the most valuable and often overlooked tools for keeping your operation audit-ready and supported by a prevention-focused strategy that keeps pace with your business.

At Sprague Pest Solutions, we view the annual review (whether that takes place at the end of a calendar or fiscal year) as more than an audit requirement or a paperwork exercise. It is an opportunity for strategic change looking at the previous 12 months of pest activity, analyzing trends, documenting corrective actions, and confirming that your program still aligns with risk levels, regulatory requirements and your internal standards.

“An annual review should be an in-person inspection of the entire program, not just the devices,” says Ashley Roden, BCE, Technical Director for Sprague. “It’s a chance for your pest control service provider and you to look at everything that’s happened over the past year and make sure your program is evolving with your facility.”

What an Annual Review Covers and Why It Matters

Annual reviews are designed to give clients a comprehensive understanding of their pest control program and how it is performing. This starts with a full evaluation of pest trend data: what species were detected, where they were found, how often they were encountered, and whether activity exceeded threshold levels.

Pest threshold levels vary by industry; pharmaceutical operations expect zero tolerance, while food processing environments may have different thresholds for shipping, storage, or production zones.

By stepping back and looking at the full year, pest patterns often become clearer. Seasonal activity, hotspots within the plant, and device performance can reveal whether program adjustments are needed. That might include adding monitoring devices, removing unproductive ones, modifying service frequency, or shifting focus to new risk areas created by production or layout changes.

Just as critical is the dialogue between the facility owners/management and their pest control service provider. An annual review is an opportunity to discuss process changes, construction projects, new products being produced, and any operational shifts that influence pest pressure.

“Open communication is essential,” says Roden. “The annual review isn’t about selling more services; it’s about making sure the program is truly working.”

This conversation is also valuable for third-party audit readiness. Corrective actions completed throughout the year – no matter who performed them – can be documented and measured for effectiveness. Structural challenges that cannot be fixed, such as roof design, can be logged along with mitigation strategies to overcome them. All of this helps present a complete, transparent narrative to auditors.

The Role of Digital Pest-Sighting Logs

In recent years, digital sighting logs have become one of the most meaningful additions to annual reviews. While pest capture  data from devices is essential, it doesn’t always tell the whole story. Employees, especially those working night or swing shifts, may see rodent or insect activity more frequently or in areas not covered by monitoring devices.

“Digital sighting logs give provides more sets of eyes in the facility,” says Roden. “If employees see activity in an area where devices aren’t catching anything, that’s incredibly important information. It helps us adapt before a small issue becomes a big one.”

These logs are also highly valued by auditors, who increasingly expect to see that facilities are empowering employees to report concerns, and that information is feeding back into program improvements. Ensuring that every employee has access to make a sighting entry strengthens the program and supports a proactive pest control culture.

In addition to the pest sighting log, an annual review may also review additional information found in the third party auditor compliant logbook:

• An overview of the current pest program, who is responsible for doing what and what pests are being targeted.
• Service reports listing details on each service visit including date, time and what service was provided.
• Pesticide usage logs detailing what products were used, where and when they were used, the active ingredient and what type of pests were targeted.
• Maps/layouts of where pest control devices are located.
• Pest capture data – what species were detected, where they were found, how often they were encountered, and whether activity exceeded threshold levels, etc.

Not Just an Audit Requirement – A Tool for Continuous Improvement

For many commercial facility owners and managers, annual reviews are a chance to reset and align priorities for the coming year. Facilities preparing for organic certification, BRC audits, or new product lines can use the review to confirm compliance and identify gaps early.

And while annual reviews are thorough, they should not be feared.

“Facility management shouldn’t look at the annual review as something to worry about,” says Roden. “It’s done for their benefit. It’s a chance to step back and make sure the program is protecting their operation the way it should.”

When You Need to Go Deeper: The Value of Risk Assessments

An annual review is broad and strategic. A risk assessment, by contrast, goes deeper and is often prompted by an upcoming third-party audit, a complex pest issue, or a facility’s desire for an in-depth evaluation of its pest vulnerabilities. These assessments are conducted by highly credentialed technical specialists and examine risks at a much more granular level.

A recent risk assessment Sprague conducted illustrates how valuable this deeper dive can be. A baked goods manufacturing facility believed it was dealing with drugstore beetles. After further investigation, Sprague identified the pests as cigarette beetles (Lasioderma sericorne), which required a different monitoring approach and corrective measures.

The risk assessment uncovered an overlooked “indoor junkyard” area where unused equipment had been stored without being thoroughly cleaned, leaving food residue that attracted pests. Floor cracks needed sealing, food dust had accumulated on equipment stored in the corners, and some raw ingredients had been stored too long without rotation.

The assessment led to targeted solutions:

• Improving first-in, first-out inventory practices
• Freezing certain ingredients if long-term storage was required
• Implementing quarterly drop-ceiling inspections
• Cleaning and sanitizing neglected storage areas
• Adjusting monitoring device placement for the actual pest species

Similar risk assessments frequently uncover issues in employee breakrooms or locker rooms – common areas where food debris can attract cockroaches. They also reveal overlooked hazards such as old R&D food samples that were never properly discarded and were attracting pests.

Another example came from a plant struggling with recurring cocoa moth activity. After a full risk assessment, Sprague found the source: a vacuum cleaner used to clean the plant, where moth larvae were developing unnoticed. Removing and sanitizing the vacuum eliminated the infestation.

A Stronger Program, Year After Year

Annual reviews and risk assessments both play important roles in elevating a facility’s pest control strategy and performance. Where annual reviews provide a structured, year-long perspective on program performance, risk assessments offer deep, technical analysis that can reveal hidden risks and drive major improvements.

For operations managers, food safety teams, and Quality Assurance professionals, these tools provide peace of mind and a roadmap for continuous improvement.

“The goal is always to strengthen the pest control program,” says Roden. “Whether it’s a simple adjustment or a deeper investigation, these reviews make sure we’re always moving forward.”

If you’d like to schedule an annual review or discuss whether a risk assessment is right for your facility, Sprague Pest Solutions is ready to help.