Mr. Meek

Security & Safety

Pest Management Starts with Hotel Layout, Design and Upkeep

By Frank Meek, International Technical & Training Director, Orkin, LLC

Space utilization. Energy efficiency. Security. What's the most important issue when designing a new hotel or upgrading an older one? Surprisingly, pest management should be high on your checklist. With the huge amount of food and supplies entering a hotel on a daily basis, the hospitality environment provides a gourmet buffet for pests and aids in their dispersal and proliferation. Failure to stop pest infestation can result in lost profits, regulatory action, and negative news coverage that can damage a hotel's reputation virtually overnight.

There are many ways to "harden" your hospitality plant and reduce the dependency on pesticides. Today's strategy incorporates the principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) into facility design and maintenance. IPM is an ongoing, preventive control system that employs the use of more than one control measure. These environmentally-friendly techniques make your facility more hospitable to guests, less hospitable to pests - and can potentially reduce operation and liability costs.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) starts with the physical design and layout of a facility. Whether designing a new facility or upgrading an existing one:

• A common layout problem is placing dumpsters too close to the building, especially if your hotel is located near a pest haven, like an interstate. Highway embankments, with litter from passing cars, are a natural, undisturbed habitat for rodents. Rats and mice are constantly on the lookout for new food sources and entry points. After the highway, their next foray will be your dumpsters. From there, it's an easy trip inside. Refuse containers should be isolated as far away from the building and kitchen areas as possible. Ask your refuse company if dumpsters can be relocated. Keep dumpsters clean -- work out a cleaning schedule that coincides with the emptying of the dumpster.

• Routinely clean trash and debris from around the building to prevent it becoming a staging area for pest invasion into the building. Don't store anything against the building.

• A secure receiving area is another key to preventing the spread of pests. Incoming product flow should be designed to minimize exposure to food areas and guest areas. Receiving should be in a designated area, separate from and not inside or adjacent to the laundry, food prep or cooking areas. Cardboard glue is a food source for roaches and other insects. Pests are frequently introduced into food service areas through shipments in cardboard boxes, so break these containers down and remove them on the day of delivery. Your receiving area should be set up so that all shipments can be inspected and unpacked, then routed to the proper area. This way, any pests inadvertently introduced can be contained and dealt with quickly.

• Facility maintenance is the next step in an Integrated Pest Management program. Routinely inspect the facility inside and out for pest entry points. Insects and rodents need only small cracks or openings to gain entrance. Close settlement cracks with sealants, check and reseal windows routinely, install air-tight weather stripping around doors, and install #16 mesh screen over exhaust fan openings and vents.

Managing conditions that are conducive to pest development is a key element of IPM. Pests need food, moisture, good places to hide, and warmth to survive and thrive. Good IPM manages all four conditions as much as possible. When pests are under stress, their development can be greatly limited, and with lower pest populations, pesticides can be used more sparingly. Here are some additional steps that will enhance your IPM program:

If pest activity is found, mechanical control measures should be used before resorting to pesticides. Devices such as glue boards, insect light traps, and multi-catch traps can be used to catch pests. Then, inspect to determine if exclusion materials have been breached. Perhaps it's time to re-caulk, re-seal, install new screens or weather stripping.

When used judiciously and properly, pesticides can be used in controlling pests. New technologies allow for better and more accurate placement of materials. Baits can treat pests in a wider variety of locations, and when placed properly, present the least exposure to employees and guests.

Finally, select a pest control firm who thoroughly trains its technicians in the principles of IPM. Select a company that has resources to train you and your staff in good IPM practices such as inspection, exclusion and sanitation. Meet with the pest control company management in order to continually reevaluate their program and to make any needed adjustments.

An industry veteran, Frank Meek has been with Orkin since 1986. In 2003, he was named among the future leaders of the pest management industry in Pest Control Technology magazine’s “40 Under 40” ranking. Currently, as the International Technical and Training Director, Mr. Meek provides technical support and training in both sales and service to Orkin's international franchises, helping them grow and develop in their specific markets. As a board-certified entomologist, Mr. Meek teaches Integrated Pest Management principles and can explain how to use all available methodologies to prevent pest infestations in various commercial settings. Mr. Meek can be contacted at 404-888-2898 or fmeek@rollinscorp.com Extended Bio...

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