The Value of Pest Management Services

Why are pest management services important? People deserve to eat safer food and live and work in healthier environments. That has been the ethos for Sprague Pest Solutions for nearly 100 years and why pest management services are critical.

Even though pests and rodents are small in physical size, their impact on a commercial property can be significant. A single pest-related incident in a food processing facility can lead to costly product recalls and potential regulatory actions (fines or closures) from state and federal agencies.

The presence of pests can also result in lost revenue, unbudgeted expenses to remediate the pest issue, and a deeply tarnished reputation among current and prospective customers.

An even bigger concern is the threat of various bacteria being introduced into food processing, handling, storage and service facilities by pests. This bacteria can lead to food-borne illnesses including E. coli, listeria and salmonella. The bottom line is that pests and the bacteria they carry pose a serious risk to the health and safety of your employees, vendors and customers.

Pests and Commercial Properties

There is often a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to pests in many commercial properties including schools, offices, healthcare facilities, restaurants and food processing plants. On paper that may sound like an easy task to achieve but, it is a much harder goal to achieve than many would think.

Commercial properties are beacons for pests for a variety of reasons:

• Due to their size and scope of the operations contained within, commercial properties provide numerous pest harborage and nesting areas.
• Commercial properties offer a nearly constant presence of food, food waste and moisture sources that attract pests.
• The continuous inflow and outflow of people and products with the ability to introduce pests to the facility

While pests can gain access to a facility in shipments of unprocessed food materials (i.e., grains, flour, seeds, spices, etc.) or pallets of packaged goods, they can also gain access due to structural and sanitation deficiencies.

Mice in a school or retail outlet could be the result of structural deficiencies including the lack of door sweeps, doors being left open or openings in the foundation. Pests in a food processing plant might indicate poor sanitation or cleaning practices or structural design issues. Bed bugs in an apartment building are a costly inconvenience and could impact rental activity.

The Cost of Pests

What is the cost of not properly planning or executing pest management services? Many high-profile food companies and restaurant chains have endured significant – seven figures in some cases – financial losses or penalties, and due to food safety related issues. They have also taken huge hits to their brand’s reputation and lost consumer confidence.

While cases like this are rare it should serve as a reminder of the extensive power – granted by the Food Safety Modernization Act – of the U.S. FDA to recall and quarantine food products, randomly inspect, and fine and even shutter food processing, distribution or storage facilities.

A trusted pest management services partner is another set of eyes monitoring and identifying  conditions that could lead to a pest infestation. This expertise allows commercial property management and owners to adjust their pest control program to head off issues with pests.

Work With The Experts

This makes partnering with a licensed, experienced pest management company to design and deliver an effective pest control program essential.

Working with a pest control professional, provides clients peace of mind knowing they are doing their part to protect customers, guests and employees.

Pest control professionals have the training, education, and expertise to handle many different types of pests. They know the safe and proper methods to identify, prevent, and eliminate each of these different pests, as well as where and how often to use them. They also have access to the most innovative technology and techniques in the field, as well as products and treatments that may not be readily available to consumers.

Discover The Sprague Difference

For more information on how Sprague Pest Solutions can assist you establish an effective pest prevention or management program in your commercial property, call 855.805.0755.