Getting rid of pests

If you find signs of pests or suspect that your workplace is infested, you should tell your supervisor (if you have one) immediately.

You or they can obtain expert advice from the Environmental Health Department and from specialist contractors.

The remedies are likely to be:

Trapping and catching

Traps are readily available but you usually need knowledge of the habits of the pest to be successful with this strategy. Never use cats or dogs as trappers, as they are likely to spread their own bacteria. Pets should be kept out of the kitchen.

Poisons and chemicals

Poisoned baits, pellets, powders, etc can be used but only where authorised and under expert supervision. Such poisons and chemicals should be handled with great care, not used near food and stored away from food in a secure place.

Sometimes it’s necessary to do a special cleaning of the kitchen floor after such poisons or chemicals have been used.

This is Chapter Four, Part Eight in a series of articles broadly similar to the course offered by the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health for its Food Hygiene Certificate.
Chapter Five: Kitchen Layout and Design
Return to the start of Chapter Four