World Grain - November 2012 - 113

FEATURE: GLOBAL FOOD SAFETY INITIATIVE

SHUT THE DOOR ON PESTS Pests do have something in common with visitors and workers at your facility — they’ll try to enter right through the front door. But there are plenty of steps you can take to make sure they’re locked out. Consider installing weather-stripping around your doors and windows to cover up any seam that pests may try to use to come inside. Talk with an HVAC professional to make sure your facility has positive airflow – that is, when you open the front door, the air blows out instead of getting sucked inside. You can also install vertical air curtains that will help create an added barrier of air to keep ﬂying pests out. If possible, swap out your traditional door for automatic doors — or, better yet, double doors — to cut down on the time pests can get into your facility.

KEEP IT CLEAN AND CLEAR You don’t have to ﬁght pests at your facility alone. Work with your staff and your pest management provider to set up a sanitation plan that everyone can follow. Also, use organic cleaners to remove spills and grimy buildup from drains and ﬂoors, and make sure your employees keep the break room clean and free of any food crumbs. In your storage area, break down and remove cardboard boxes as quickly as possible since cockroaches can use them for food and shelter. You should store dry goods in air-tight, closed containers at least six inches off the ﬂoor and 18 inches away from walls. Don’t forget about your receiving areas. It’s important to make sure that these are clean, well-lit and uncluttered. Clutter in these areas serves as the perfect hiding spots for many pests. All exterior doors in the receiving area should

also form a tight seal when closed. Remember, mice can squeeze through an opening the size of a dime, while cockroaches need an opening the size of 1/8 of an inch to get inside. Talk with your pest management professional to develop your IPM program and ﬁnd ways to improve your efforts. With the proper IPM plan in place, your facility will be on the right track to meeting an important GFSI benchmark.
Dr. Zia Siddiqi is Director of Quality Systems for Orkin. A board certified entomologist with more than 30 years in the industry, Dr. Siddiqi is an acknowledged leader in the field of pest management. For more information, e-mail zsiddiqi@rollins.com or visit www. orkincommercial.com.

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World Grain - November 2012

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