If there’s one thing the COVID-19 pandemic has shown, it’s that reopening a business in the aftermath of a public health emergency or other crisis can be a difficult needle to thread. Rules and requirements seem to change on a daily basis—if not an hourly one. From retail shops and restaurants to hospitality businesses, keeping your employees, customers, and family safe is of paramount importance.
So, where do you start if you’ve recently had to close because of a pest problem? What’s the best way to regularly clean your business and keep it that way? At McCall Service, we pride ourselves on the ways in which we help our customers ensure their customers’ and employees’ safety. Let’s look at some of the best practices you can adopt to make sure your business isn’t just ready to reopen but is also prepared to stay that way.
[H2] So, You Have a Pest Problem…
One of the main reasons any business needs to close—especially in the restaurant and hospitality industries—is a pest problem. From rodents to roaches and bed bugs to beetles, owners of these types of businesses are always battling invasive insects and unwanted pest guests. Pests such as rats and cockroaches are responsible for multiple types of foodborne illnesses and can make your guests very sick if left unchecked. Pantry pests, if allowed to thrive, can infest your product stock and ruin plenty of inventory.
Bed bugs may not make your hotel’s guests sick. They will, however, leave your guests with a bad final impression of their stay with you—especially if the bugs hitch a ride home in their luggage and infest their home. And if your hotel has a restaurant inside, the common pest problems that plague them can add to your woes.
[H3] The Impact of a Pest Infestation
Pest problems that become severe enough to warrant closure are usually noticeable by both employees and patrons, or they may be uncovered during the course of a routine health inspection. Closing due to pest infestation isn’t just an impact to your business’s bottom line. Because of the public nature of these closures—especially when mandated by county health departments or other organizations—they can be a real hit to your reputation.
[H3] Fixing the Pest Issue
The first thing to do if your business has been forced to close due to a pest problem is to eliminate the issue. Do not attempt to do so on your own. Delaying pest treatment by a professional will likely cause more problems. Instead, have a licensed and experienced pest treatment professional perform a full inspection of the premises. Not only will they help determine the scope of the problem, but they will also provide tailored solutions to eliminate the pests. Whether those methods involve exclusion and trapping for rodents or wildlife or targeted heat treatment for bed bugs, your pest professional will tackle the problem with actionable solutions.
This process, known as Integrated Pest Management (IPM), seeks to treat pests with targeted methods that are minimally invasive and use only the necessary amount of product application. It does not involve a blanket approach of treating the entire facility.
[H3] Preventing Future Pest Issues
Of course, eliminating a pest problem is only part of the full solution. What remains is ensuring future pest issues don’t crop up again. In the process of removing pests, ask your pest control technician about the pest pressures they see. As they go through the inspection process, they will likely make a note of points of entry. They’ll also point out conditions and environments that allow pests to thrive.
At this point, it is up to you and your employees to take action. Your pest control technician will help educate you and your team on the signs of pest issues as well as how to eliminate potential problems before they arise. By learning how to spot pest-friendly environments and conditions, you’ll be equipped to monitor and alert your pest control company about potential problems before they get out of control.
As part of the IPM process, regular pest control is key to ensuring the safety of your business and to controlling future pest infestations. It’s important to continue receiving services from your pest control company, even after removing the pest problem. Failure to contain future pest issues will only end up costing you more time and money down the road.
[H2] Maintaining a Sanitary Business Environment
Pests aren’t the only reason a business may have to close, however. Unclean conditions can also be hazardous to the health and safety of your patrons and employees. Whether it’s a kitchen that has been neglected, an open-air office that is fully staffed, or a busy lobby frequented by plenty of foot traffic, all of these areas require constant cleaning and sanitation. As the recent coronavirus pandemic has shown, ensuring sanitary surfaces can go a long way toward making customers feel safe in your establishment.
As well as regular cleaning performed by your employees, outsourcing a true “deep clean” of your office, store, restaurant, or other high-traffic business environment can allow you to focus on other priorities.
How Disinfection Services Work
In addition to routine cleaning of high-touch surfaces in your business, disinfection works to target objects that you might not typically think to clean. Door handles and knobs, vending machines, water fountains, and even computer keyboards, mice, and desks are all hot spots for pathogens. That’s why it’s vital to regularly make sure these objects and locations are regularly disinfected.
At McCall Service, our ViPro Shield Disinfecting Service involves not only cleaning these areas but also using the right equipment. We focus on isolating critical exposure points and disinfect them with EPA-approved products. Any contaminated cleaning products are immediately and properly disposed of.
Scheduling Regular Disinfection Services
Disinfection, much like pest control, should not be a “one and done” service—especially during periods of high traffic that intersect with seasonal illnesses or sudden health crises, such as the coronavirus pandemic. By regularly scheduling disinfection, you can cut down on the amount of germs present in your office or facility. How often you choose to use these services may be determined by your budget and your needs. Quarterly or even monthly cleanings can go a long way toward helping make your workplace safer for both employees and customers.
Let McCall Help You Get Back to Business
Whether your business has recently closed due to pest issues, sanitation concerns, or simply external factors out of your control, call McCall Service. This downtime is an excellent opportunity to look at your current practices and determine areas of change. Our pest control services and disinfection process can help get your doors open faster and ensure that your business remains a place that’s protected from both pests and other pathogens. To get started, contact our customer service team today to schedule your appointment.
