If you own a business in the Yakima area, especially housed in a large building like a warehouse or distribution center, you probably have concerns about pest control. After all, rodents, insects, and birds love to invade spaces like these, where there are many great nesting spots.
The appearance of pests in the workplace can cause real problems for any business. Employees, visitors, and business partners alike will be turned off by the presence of any of the common workplace pests. Your business reputation may suffer if a pest problem is not handled quickly and efficiently.
There are some steps you can take to prevent a pest problem from developing in your workplace. However, even if you do everything right, you may need to hire commercial pest control experts to help you manage rodents, insects, and birds in your building. Read on for the best ways to keep an infestation away – and for knowledge on when to call the pros.
How Can I Prevent Infestations in My Place of Business?
As a business owner or manager, you can take several steps to keep a problem with rodents, insects, or birds from developing on your property.
The top three ways tips for workplace pest control are to manage workflow practices to keep pests at bay, learn signs of an infestation so you can monitor the building, and partner with a pest control provider for when issues arise.
Taking each of these steps will help keep an infestation from developing and offer quick solutions when rodents or insects inevitably enter the workplace.
Photo by Timothy L Brock on Unsplash
Manage Workflow Practices
There are a number of steps you can take in your business to keep pests from invading. Some of these are common-sense practices:
- Keep doors closed and loading docks closed when not in use
- Open windows only with screens in place
- Seal off any exterior openings such as cracks or breaks
- Keep product stored off the ground
However, there are other practices you may not have thought of that can also help keep rodents and insects at bay:
- Rotate your product stock efficiently. A first-in, first-out system will ensure that products are moving and pests do not have the opportunity to settle in.
- Keep things organized. Cluttered workspaces give pests a greater chance of finding nesting grounds while going unnoticed.
- Leave space behind storage shelves for inspection. Products stored right next to a wall are more likely to be infested by small bugs and rodents that come in through cracks in the foundation. Leaving 12-18 inches for visual inspection is advisable.
- Keep your stacks low. Stacking items very high allows pests to travel along pipes and electrical conduits and access your stock from the ceiling.
Watch for Signs of Pests
Knowing what to look for in terms of signs of an infestation is key to preventing a small problem from growing into a huge issue. Some common early signs of workplaces pests include:
- Product damage, such as holes or bite marks
- Droppings or urine stains on shelves or flooring
- Greasy-looking marks or tracks
- Nesting materials, such as shredded paper or dried plants/grass
- Stale or foul smells without an obvious source
- Thumping or scratching sounds in walls
- Insect casings or live insects
- Damage to plants, indoors or outside the building
If you see any of these signs of a pest problem, further investigation is warranted. Usually, when there is one pest or nest, there are others.
Partner with a Pest Control Provider
As a business owner or manager in the Yakima area, it is important to protect your business’ reputation in the community. Part of that means ensuring that a pest infestation does not impact how your staff, suppliers, and visitors view your company. It is wise to partner with a commercial pest control provider.
Commercial providers such as Sprague Pest Control Solutions can provide an initial assessment of your risk and give you personalized tips for managing your building and business practices to keep pests away. You can have them on call if you notice any signs of infestation and they will be ready to take care of your needs right away.