How Integrated Pest Management Can Benefit Your Business

When tackling pest problems, it makes sense to take a holistic approach that involves prevention, eradication and monitoring the problem and working with the individual customer to develop a customised solution. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a unique approach to dealing with pest infestations and tackling the root causes.

Professional Exterminators are able to combine their expert knowledge about pests, their life cycle and their habits with cutting-edge pest-control technologies and methods to deliver a customer-centric solution that meets your specific needs.

By trending pest activity, they are also able to manage and monitor a pest infestation using automated traps and bait stations, electronic sensors, alerts, wireless communication and real-time data.

A modern pest-control programme needs to involve more than pesticides. That’s why chemical-free solutions are also recommended to reduce any hazardous impact on the environment, whilst also protecting people and property.

Benefits of Integrated Pest Management

IPM involves both prevention and correction in order to reduce the risks of pest infestation, whilst also protecting your business and the environment. It is a flexible programme that can deliver a customised solution to specific needs. And it has a proven a track record of significantly reducing the risks and related to pesticides, while improving quality, health and welfare of environment.

Needless to say, IPM results in numerous benefits to businesses. It reduces the costs involved in dealing with a serious pest infestation. It offers a flexible solution based on your specific needs and concerns. And it results in a healthier, safer environment for your staff and customers.

Health

Everyone benefits from a safe, pest-free environment. People who suffer from allergies or asthma can become particularly vulnerable during a pest infestation. Pests such as rodents, dust mites and cockroaches can pose serious problems to these people. By reducing the likelihood of infestations, IPM helps protect people’s health and comfort.

Economics

IPM requires a committed, labour-intensive effort to eliminate pest problems. This may appear expensive at first. However, in the long term, IPM can reduce business costs by effectively dealing with the root causes of pest problems and reducing the likelihood of infestations reoccurring in the future. Also, the pest prevention methods can bring other benefits by, for example, making buildings more energy efficient.

Environment

IPM reduces or eliminates risks to the environment, such as contamination or pollution, because it offers alternative, less harmful pest-control strategies. In addition, this ensures that other species are not harmed by the process. And in turn, this helps protect the brand by increasing public confidence in the business’s commitment to protecting the environment

IPM is a holistic approach to pest control, helping your business to identify the unique root causes to your situation. As well as eliminating pests, it helps to prevent re-infestations. Businesses that use IPM can enjoy health, reputational and financial benefits.

Rentokil’s Integrated Pest Management Programme

An Integrated Pest Management programme involves understanding, monitoring, preventing and controlling pests:

1. Understanding

Each business has its own particular pest concerns and business needs. IPM provides a customised solution to specific business sector. Some industries may be more tolerant than others of pest problems. For example, a restaurant would have a zero-tolerance approach to pests, whereas a construction business would likely be more concerned with major infestations rather than sightings of one or two pests. Because of this, IPM takes into account factors such as the business, the environment, the timing and the type of pest or pests involved.

2. Monitoring

In order to tackle a pest problem, you need to carefully monitor it to get a sense of the scale and type of infestations. Our experts work closely with you to carefully monitor any pest incidents that develop. This involves using inspections, logbooks and monitoring devices. As well as helping you accurately identify problem pests, we encourage you to monitor:

• pest(s) evidence
• pest-conducive conditions
• areas with moisture, heat or humidity
• food or water
• pest harborage (interior/exterior, trash areas, drains, building perimeter-weeds and debris)
• pest entry points(doors, loading docks)

3. Preventing

Preventing pest problems from developing is a key aim of IPM. Prevention can involve basic steps such as setting rodent traps and insect glue traps, as well as more sophisticated equipment such as RADAR and light traps.

A comprehensive solution needs to include proper sanitation and cleaning procedure.  We will analyse existing procedures and suggest improvements and additions where necessary.

Possible access points and structural weaknesses also need to be identified. This can help you to set pest exclusion zones, ensuring pests don’t enter the premises. Checking for and repairing holes, cracks, gaps and vulnerable structures will reduce the risks of pest infestations.

We work with you to inspect all prevention programmes and provide recommendations for making them more effective.

4. Controlling

Rentokil’s IPM program also involves assessing control methods for effectiveness and risk.

• Physical: By controlling the physical environment, we can make premises less attractive to pests. For example, simple adjustments to humidity, temperature and light can deter pests. Some tactics include the use of dehumidifiers, special light bulbs and heat treatments.
• Mechanical: Mechanical devices can be used to prevent and eliminate pests. These controls include vacuum cleaners and spider / cobweb brushes.
• Chemicals: Chemical controls usually involve the strategic use of pesticides when necessary. IPM programmes, however, do aim to reduce pesticide use and explore chemical-free alternatives. Where chemicals must be used, we ensure they are deployed in a safe, targeted manner that protects people’s health while also ensuring that the environment is not harmed.

If you need a customised Integrated Pest Management solution to control pest problems in your business, please contact us today for expert advice.