Factory Guide: How to Maintain Hygiene & Prevent Pest Infestations

It is absolutely vital for any factory that processes or stores food products to maintain the highest level of hygiene and cleanliness which also means no presence of or hints of an infestation being there, to comply with the legislation and food safety regulations.

Since a factory provides ample amounts of food, water, shelter and warmth, it is a challenging task to keep the property pest-free. Since these types of factories also produce an extremely high amount of waste, it makes it even more attractive to insects for breeding purposes.

Therefore, it is essential to have an active and thorough control and preventive system in place.

Awareness Training for Factory Employees

Gone are the days when factory employees had to go outside to get educated and trained. Thanks to advanced technology, everything is available online right from educational courses to awareness programmes.

One of the primary benefits of this new type of training is that it can be accessed from any part of the world and as and when required, making it easier to educate many people simultaneously and at any given time.

Employee awareness training educates employees on various factors such as the importance of insect control, the consequences and dangers of having them present in the area, etc.

• Rules & Regulations: There are several existing laws and regulations regarding pests that businesses and factory employees need to know and practice. For instance, the General Food Hygiene Regulations 2006 requires the premises to be created in a way that allows proper waste removal and cleaning. It also states that entry of insects, birds, rodents and any other infestation should be prevented at all costs. Other important laws to be aware of are the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949 and the Food Safety Act 1990.
• Product Damage: It is essential for factory employees to be aware of and able to identify damage caused by insects. For instance, birds, rodents and other insects could feed on the products and damage it or use the packaging for nesting material. Birds could cause water logging and mess up the draining system with their nesting material. Birds could also damage the factory building indirectly with their nesting material, while rats could gnaw on electrical cable wires which could lead to a short circuit or a fire.
• Diseases and Product Contamination: Factory employees should be aware of the dangers that insects pose and the consequences of their presence. Since they carry a ton of bacterias, parasites, diseases and fungal spores and viruses that transfer from them on to anything they touch or tread on, contaminating the property and products. Therefore, the presence of insects could lead to various health risks both in the employees and the consumers. They easily contaminate things through their fur, urine, droppings, feathers, and dead carcases. They are also able to pass on diseases to your employees by regurgitating their food on to food products.
• Brand Humiliation: Lastly, it is vital that factory employees are aware of and understand how an infestation can damage the reputation of the company and cause loss of sales. Therefore, the cost-effective way is by following a prevention strategy rather than having to pay for infestation control and removal. The first step to prevent an infestation from worsening is by educating factory employees on the signs of an infestation and how to identify signs of pest activity. But that’s not all, it is also essential to get professional help and equipment to monitor the factory and ensure any early signs of an infestation are caught and eliminated as soon as possible.

Fight the Dirt & Grime

One of the most basic and important factors in prevention and for organizations to maintain hygiene is by cleaning the property and its items properly. It is very common to find food remnants in corners, under machinery and in places that are hard to reach or clean.

However, it could attract pests to the factory as it serves as the perfect place to get free food, shelter and water. Therefore, cleaning is vital to keep pests at bay. Keep in mind that for factories, it is vital to get it cleaned properly, thoroughly, and regularly by professionals and efficient equipment.

Typically, the HACCP plan (hazard analysis and critical control points) and the frequency of maintenance should be reviewed. To identify the efficiency and areas of betterment, an Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) is used or microbiological swabbing is conducted.

By mapping the property systematically, it is possible to identify the areas that require improvement. Once the property is deep cleaned, it is the job of the staff to maintain this level of cleanliness.

Professional Disinfection

After the property is cleaned thoroughly, fogging — a disinfecting technique is used to sanitize the equipment and the food production space in the factory.

Research shows that fogging is extremely effective in disinfection and in reducing and eliminating various harmful pathogens and viruses. By using this modern cleaning technique to decontaminate the space, you will be providing the highest level of sanitization required and expected by the food manufacturing department.

In conclusion, it would be easier to prevent infestations and huge product and reputational loss in factories, if the employees are aware of and understand the importance of pest control and why it is vital for a business’s growth. Only when employees are educated and trained, will they be able to catch early signs of an infestation and make it a priority to maintain the level of sanitisation required to prevent pests.

Therefore employee awareness training plays a crucial role in pest prevention and hygiene maintenance. It is also vital to get your factory inspected regularly for pest activities and professionally treated as soon as possible to avoid any further damage.

About the Author: Muzi Tsolakis, owner of Protech Pest Control Company in Australia, is a specialist in all types of pest control and removal services. The company is well recognized for providing cost-effective commercial pest control treatments and impeccable pest inspections.