Two steps to take if you discover a pest infestation on your business' premises

A pest infestation in your business premises is a serious problem which could have a hugely detrimental impact on your enterprise. As such, it's crucial to address this issue promptly and appropriately. Here are two of the most important steps you should take if you ever find yourself in this situation:

Call a pest control specialist immediately

Having a pest control specialist handle an infestation will, of course, cost money and may require you to temporarily close your business. As such, if you spot a single rat or mouse, or just a few ants on your premises, you may try to convince yourself that it isn't a major problem and decide not to take any action to resolve it.

This is a mistake which will end up costing you a lot of money in the long run. Pest infestations rarely, if ever, go away of their own accord. If for example, a group of rodents discovers a food source on your premises, they will continue to return to that source over and over again. During this time, they will carry on breeding and multiplying inside the building.

In short, the longer you ignore the infestation, the worse it will get. If your employees, customers or clients spot a rodent on the premises, this could destroy your business' reputation in an instant. The presence of rodents could also put them at risk of catching one of the many diseases that these creatures can transmit (such as, for instance, lymphocytic choriomeningitis). You may also incur a large fine if you are found to be in breach of sanitation regulations.

As such, it is absolutely essential to call a pest control specialist the moment you notice an infestation. They will have the expertise and the products needed to eradicate the infestation before your premises and your professional reputation are damaged.

Take precautions to prevent future pest problems

To ensure that you never again have to endure the expense and stress of dealing with a pest infestation in the future, it is important to take certain precautions.

If your main concern is a rodent infestation, for example, you should make sure that any holes in the building's exterior walls are sealed up and insist that the food waste created by your employees is thrown into airtight bins (to ensure that the smells it produces do not attract mice or rats).

Additionally, any areas in which food is prepared or eaten should be thoroughly hoovered and disinfected on a daily basis, to prevent drink spillages and crumbs from enticing rodents into the premises.