Does your business need a pest control contract? In a line no, it’s not law that take aways, restaurants, cafes or anywhere serving food to the public have a pest control contract in place.
However, it is required under health and safety regulations, that the pest control at any establishment serving food is managed. Pest control management can be done in house, however should a health and safety inspection be carried out, then it is likely evidence of the pest control management measures in place will be requested.
Should this happen, it is best practice for a documented professional pest control contract to be in place. The pest control contract documents should show evidence of regular pest control visits and checks, along with any pest control prevention measures implemented. A pest control contract will safeguard your business in the instance.
If a health and safety inspector is not satisfied with the pest control measures in place at a premises serving food, such as a restaurant or café, they do have the power to close the premises until proper pest control management is in place.
Any organisation serving food to the public does have a duty of care to their customers, which includes keeping the food safe from contamination from pests such as rats, mice or cockroaches. We get calls every year from businesses looking for pest control at their premises, which have often been dealing with an ongoing pest infestation for weeks or even months. In order to save money they have been trying to manage it themselves.
Our professional advice is to always seek out a reputable pest control company to deal with all pest infestations at a business. The clear requirement to keep staff and customers safe is always the priority in this instance. Professional cockroach or rodent pest control is always quicker and easier than trying to get rid of rats, mice or cockroaches yourself.
Often a local pest control company is positioned so they can be more reactive and personal to your needs. If you are looking for a pest control contract for your business, it is worth researching reputable, local pest control companies. Local pest control companies also tend to be more cost effective and offer cheaper pest control solutions overall.
Above all the priority is to avoid a pest infestation at any business. The risk to public health, staff welfare and reputation is high if a rodent or cockroach infestation leads to illness or gets noticed. Pest control contracts are an affordable, efficient and easy pest management solution for any business and are highly recommended.
