Your pest management provider might visit weekly or monthly. But your team is onsite every single day. That means they’re the most important people in your pest prevention strategy.
Here’s how to empower your staff to help stop infestations before they start:
1. Educate Everyone — Not Just the Cleaning Team
Every employee, from machine operators to warehouse pickers, should know the basics: what common pests look like, where they hide, and what are the signs of pest activity related to them.
It is important that they know what to look for, otherwise the reporting process fails before it has even begun.
2. Make Reporting Easy
If staff aren’t sure how to report sightings, or feel embarrassed to speak up, issues get missed. Put up posters near workstations, offer a quick checklist, and make sure reporting is encouraged — not punished.
In an environment where reporting issues is met with annoyance or push back, pests are left to thrive. There may be some extra work to solve the problem but that should not impact how the issue is viewed by staff. A positive response will ensure infestations are prevented, saving the company money and any reputation damage associated with exposure to pests.
3. Reward Observation
If someone spots early signs and helps prevent a major issue, shout about it. Mention it in briefings, offer a small reward, and make pest awareness something that gets noticed.
This ties in with point two. It is better to reward observations, even if they are a false alarm. It shows staff are keen to report problems which creates an open and transparent atmosphere. You show your willingness to act which instills a proactive morale.
4. Show the Bigger Picture
When people understand the consequences of an infestation — like food recalls, fines, or factory shutdowns — they’ll take it more seriously. Use real examples in your toolbox talks or training.
When we provide training we make it relatable. It should focus on three core areas: house keeping, exclusion and monitoring. The bigger picture involves, keeping the premises clean and tidy, preventing pests entering the premises, and monitoring any pest activity with a bullet proof reporting system in place.
Your pest control plan is only as strong as the people who see your site every day. Give them the confidence, knowledge, and tools to be part of the solution.
Our hub has been in Lincolnshire since we started but we operate throughout the country and some of our advisors see very little of our home county. Here are a few of the places we currently cover with active projects and maintenance contracts:
