Safe method:
Pest control
Effective pest control is essential to keep pests out of your
premises and prevent them from spreading harmful bacteria.
Safety point Why? How do you do this?
Check your premises regularly Pests carry harmful bacteria. When do you check for pests?
for signs of pests.
One option is to employ a pest
control contractor. See the ‘Suppliers
and contractors’ safe method in the
Management section.
Check deliveries thoroughly for Pests could come into your How do you check deliveries?
signs of pests. Do not accept a premises in a delivery.
delivery if it shows signs of pests.
Keep external areas tidy and free Weeds and rubbish can attract How often do you check
from weeds. Make sure bins have pests and provide them with external areas?
close-fitting lids. food and shelter.
Type of pest Signs of pests
Rodents Small footprints in dust, droppings,
holes in walls and doors, nests,
gnawed goods or packaging, grease
or smear marks
Flies and flying insects Bodies of insects, live insects, excreta
(small splashes/smears on surfaces),
webbing, nests, droning or buzzing,
maggots and pupae
Type of pest Signs of pests
Cockroaches Eggs and egg cases, moulted ‘skins’,
the insects themselves, droppings
Ants Small piles of sand or soil, the insects
themselves, flying ants on hot days
Birds Feathers, droppings, nests, noise,
the birds themselves
What to do if things go wrong How to stop this happening again
If you see signs of a pest infestation, call a pest • Make your pest checks more frequent.
contractor immediately. Write the emergency • Improve staff training on recognising signs of pests
telephone number here: and encourage them to report problems immediately.
• If you have persistent problems with pests, consider
employing a pest contractor, if you do not have
If you think any equipment, surfaces or utensils one already.
have been touched by pests, they should be washed,
disinfected and dried to stop harmful bacteria
from spreading.
If you think food has been touched by pests
in any way, throw it away.
Diary
Write down what went wrong and what you did about it in your diary. Diary
Think twice!
Never let pest control bait/chemicals come into contact with food, packaging, equipment or surfaces,
because they are likely to be poisonous to people.
Manage it
• Make sure that checks for pests are carried out regularly.
• Put reminders of when to check for pests in your diary.
• If you have a pest contractor, keep a record of their visits in your diary, as well as any feedback or action points.
CC5/09-05