While not the first place we might think of when we consider pest infestations, offices and office parks carry risk factors that can make them tempting for creepy crawlers. Some of the most common pests that seek to infest offices are mice, rats, cockroaches, ants and termites.
When considering the best ways to handle office pest control, the first task should be understanding why pests are in your building in the first place. If you know how they are getting in, you are more likely to be able to stop them at their entry points. In addition, knowing what attracts pests and makes want to stay may also help you understand how to prevent them. Ultimately, when you have a pest infestation in your office park, you need to know how to get rid of them.
Stopping Pests at Entry Points
First of all, try to figure out how pests are gaining entry to your building. Inspection is an important part of this process. Look for cracks, crevices, uncovered drain pipes, trash receptacles or other items that may make your office susceptible to pest infestation. Poorly maintained landscape areas may also be attractive places for pests to hang out. When pests have found a home outside, this could mean that they might eventually try to make their way inside as well.
Read More: Office Pest Prevention: What Your Employees Can Do To Keep Pests Away
Pests can also be brought in through your office employees through items such as overripe fruit that develop gnats, or snacks that are forgotten about and eventually develop as moth or beetle habitats. Even potted plants brought in to decorate can house insects that will lay eggs and spread throughout the office.
Keeping Pests from Being Interested
Just like humans, rodents and insects need three basic things in a habitat: food, water, and shelter. If your office provides these, this can make pest control difficult. Regular maintenance of water leaks in kitchen and restroom facilities is important. Also, keeping food contained in one area of the office building, storing food in airtight containers, and making sure all kitchen areas are clean and crumb-free will go far in office pest control.
Integrated Pest Management Services
Those who own or manage office buildings and office parks should be aware of the need for pest control and consider the safest, most beneficial options. For the most effective, all-around form of pest control in an office park, consider an Integrated Pest Management system such as the programs offered by Cypress Creek Pest Control in Houston.
Read More: What is Integrated Pest Management Service?
This approach to pest control uses common sense while minimizing or completely eliminating the need for harmful pesticides. In these programs chemical intervention is used as a last resort to pest control, making use of non-toxic options first, followed by reduced risk chemicals if needed. The safest chemical extermination options are noted on the San Francisco Reduced Risk Chemical List.
Utilizing the least invasive method of controlling pests, individual components of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) typically include:
- Inspection
- Monitoring
- Assessment
- Treatment
- Evaluation
With any quality IPM, inspection services should performed by qualified team members who have experience with pests in the local area. Individualized monitoring plan parameters and methods should be created to meet the specific needs of the office space and surrounding outdoor areas. Assessment and evaluations will offer detailed informational reports to narrow down problems and find the best solutions. Staff education, maintenance activities, habit modification, and physical pest control are all actions that may be suggested to minimize the risk of pests in the office.
Keeping pests out of your office building and office park is a job that requires attention, diligence, and professional know-how. A professional pest control specialist will manage this pest control aspect of your business for you, allowing you to move on with other important efforts related to your business.
