Use Teamwork and Awareness to Minimize Pests 1B: Pest Management Use Teamwork and Awareness to Minimize Pests

Cleaning to minimize pests Cleaning and sanitation are the first line of defense in controlling pest infestations All pests look for food, water and a home Custodians spend more time observing facility conditions than others Reporting our observations are key to helping minimize infestations The work custodians perform are important in combatting pest infestations 24/7 pests are looking for places to live in buildings. They want food, water and a comfortable place to live Always be on the lookout for signs of pests Rat and mouse droppings (always use health protective protocols when cleaning up) Ants send individual “scouts” to find habitat. When you see individual ants, clean the area with surface cleaner to remove their trail Rats often rub their fur repeatedly in certain areas Pests will always look for and make their homes in places with accessible food, water and less disturbed areas such as inside cabinets. If you see conditions such as water leaks, improperly stored food or excessive clutter, report them to your supervisor Immediately report conditions to your supervisor that allow pests easy entry, such as gaps around wall plugs, below doors. An adult rat can enter through a hole the size of a quarter

Signs of pests Intent:

Signs of pests

Signs of pests

Where pests live

Where pests live

Cluttered cabinets create habitat for many pests Where pests live Cluttered cabinets create habitat for many pests

How pests get in Ants come in through the small gaps around plugs

How pests get in Pests can enter a building under doors without sweeps

Report your observations

Test General sanitation and pest infestations are unrelated: True False All pests look for: Food Water Home All the above