It is a real treat to have the community of expert teachers who are passionate about food safety and also about sharing everything they know with students.
We love that they renew us with their ideas for the courses, for the blog and for the networks. They give us great value to continue growing in our careers and to put them into immediate practice in companies.
On the other hand, we share an article from the teacher, which will help you choose the best provider.
Selecting a pest control company
The presence of pests in any food environment is unacceptable. An effective Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program will help you ensure you have a safe and safe product.
When selecting a pest control company, you must be proactive to ensure that the service provider meets your company's specific needs. This involves asking the right questions before signing a contract and regularly monitoring to make sure the program is working.
Before choosing a company, consider the following questions:
-
What kind of licenses does the company have and for how long have they been authorized?
-
Are the company and its pest control applicators in good standing with the government agency that oversees the licenses?
-
Have complaints been filed against the company or its employees?
-
Who is doing the evaluation?
-
Do you understand the biology of pests?
-
Are you evaluating the facility and its surroundings?
-
Are you reviewing the structure and condition of the building to determine shelter areas?
-
Do you understand the products your food plant produces, and the insect species associated with the product?
-
Are you considering seasonal problems? For example, the plant may be next to an agricultural field, where there may be increased pressure on your premises after the harvest is complete and the external food source is removed.
-
Could the site benefit from additional monitoring tools, such as the use of pheromone traps?
-
What are the issues identified in the service reports, and are you taking corrective action to resolve them?
-
Are the corrective actions effective?
-
What does the documentation for the monitoring device tell you?
-
Are more or fewer devices needed?
-
Where are the devices placed?
-
How often are devices reviewed, replaced and / or removed?
-
Are enough devices in place to eradicate the problem?
-
Does the company have organic certification?
-
If yes, which organization certifies them?
-
Do they cater to other organic facilities? If so, how many?
-
How many technicians are trained to attend organic facilities?
-
Do you offer training to your staff?
-
Ask how the pest control company is kept up to date on current events and changes in pest control regulations.
-
Do they participate in state or local associations that provide training and updates?
-
Do you receive agricultural extension bulletins?
-
Do they use universities or other programs to improve their skills and training?
Regardless of the size of your business, an active and effective pest control program must be in place to ensure a safe food product free of harmful bacteria.
The pest control company must have the appropriate license and insurance where applicable. You should carefully select your pest control provider and make sure they understand the nature of your specific business and the types of pests they are likely to encounter on your premises. Once an IPM program has been implemented, you must carefully manage it to be effective. That means meeting with your pest control service provider regularly to make sure the program is working.
|
Author : TM Root |
Views : 88 |
|
|
|
|
This Blog Has Been PowerShared™ Successfully! |
|
|
Check out TM Root's Profile, and Blogs! |
|