Pest Control in the Hospitality Industry

If you own a business within the hospitality industry, you already know pest control treatment is a legal requirement. However, it’s important to understand how pests should be controlled in a food business. Pest control treatment cannot be undertaken on business premises unless it is done by someone with a pest control licence, however, there are additional procedures you need to implement every day to help manage pests. In today’s age in which online reviews can be shared instantly, it’s important to understand the importance of pest control in restaurants as it can have a massive impact on your businesses reputation. Pest Control must be performed regularly and a restaurant pest control procedure should be implemented to support professional treatment.

Badly stored food and food waste attract pests as it provides them with a source of food, water and shelter, risking contamination. Australia has a Food Standard Code which requires all food businesses to take practicable measures to:

• Prevent pests from invading food premises
• Prevent and eradicate harbouring pests from the food premises

Within this, there are multiple pest control requirements that need to be in place which include:

• regular monitoring and inspection for signs of pests in any situation that may increase the risk of pest infestations
• action taken to control the pests or remove the source of risk of infestation
• keeping records of incidences of pests and measures used to prevent, monitor and control pests (such as a pest control checklist or pest control notes)

This is designed to help you understand how pests should be controlled in a food business. Food premises should be kept clean and maintained to prevent pest infestations. This includes the handling and storage of food, as well as food waste. Raw ingredients and food that has been prepared must be stored in appropriate conditions to protect them from pests. Additional procedures must also be in place to prevent pests accessing areas in which food is prepared, handled and stored.

The design and layout of the premises need to permit proper food hygiene practices and pest control. The business owner must maintain the integrity of the building (such as sealing all holes, gaps, cracks in walls and ceilings), install and maintain fly screens on all windows and door openings, ensuring that all doors not in use are closed and ensuring regular appointments are kept with a licensed pest controller (every 3 months).

This also specifies that food waste must be removed from every room in which food is present and be quickly disposed of. Prepared food must be stored in the appropriate containers and areas and these areas must be cleaned and disinfected on a regular basis to prevent pests. This protects not only the patrons of your business but also your stock levels from contamination. In the Australian food industry, businesses are required to implement a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) to ensure the effective management of food safety hazards.

Pests are attracted to facilities that combine their need for food, water, and shelter. You’ll most likely find them:

• Under and behind stoves, grills and other cooking devices
• Under the sink and/or dishwasher
• Under or inside packaging i.e. boxes, and crates
• Inside wall cavities, cracks and crevices

Business Pest Control is crucial, especially in the hospitality industry as there are so many dealings with food and food waste every day. At Hitman, we take pride in our work and are by the book by nature. We’ll help guide you on proper procedures and techniques to put in place to prevent pests in your business premises. Our treatments are known for their reliability which is why our clients who work with us, stay with us for the long term.

We are flexible with our appointment times so that we are able to work around you and your business’s needs. We service a wide array of commercial businesses including clubs, offices, factories, medical and dental practises, schools, child care centres, universities, hospitals, airports, restaurants and food franchises.