Pests, such as spiders, ants, cockroaches, and mice, can sometimes infest an office space. Many office buildings have a regular pest control service that will make regular visits and will come back immediately if a problem arises between visits. Some offices, however, choose to handle any pest infestation themselves with various powders and traps depending on the insect or rodent giving trouble. In either case, an office is a place where insects and rodents can easily become a problem, and there are definitely things workers can do to help keep an office pest-free. Here are some ideas that will work if the employees are willing to follow them:
- Keep all food in the breakroom. Eating will cause a certain amount of crumbs and nibbles to be deposited on the floor. Also, spills of juice, soda, or sugar-laden coffee can leave sticky surgery places on the floor and desk and countertops. Any spills should be cleaned up immediately. Most insects and rodents are looking for food, especially sugar and grain-related foods, so any human leftovers are greatly appreciated. If pests have no food to entice them, you are less likely to have them visit. Spiders, however, are not looking for food but a place to spin their webs. Check corners in the ceiling for webs and brush the webs away. Sometimes if there are a lot of plants in the office, spiders will use them for attaching webs. As you water the plants, check for spider webs.
- Make sure any waste container used for food or food wrappings has a cover. It is also very important that all food waste containers are emptied every day, usually at the end of the workday. Many pests prefer to come out when the office is quiet with nobody around to possibly end their life. Any dishes or flatware that has been used for food or drink should be washed as soon as you are finished using it.
- Offices, like homes, should be kept clean. While it is often the practice of office management to have their offices cleaned by a professional cleaning service, it is still important for each worker to keep waste materials in receptacles for that purpose and keep the tops of their work areas clean and neat. When an office staff must be responsible for keeping the office clean, a supervisor should make a schedule for the work to be done and fairly divide the jobs between workers.
- In cases where there are pests and no professional pest control company, the management will likely use various pest control products. Be sure to avoid touching these products and keep them replaced regularly to continue their efficiency. Some insect-controlling sprays have a lingering odor, so be sure to check with employees regarding allergic reactions to smells.
No one wants pests in their office, and pest infestation shouldn’t be a problem with care and the proper control products.
