National trade body the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) has issued a rallying call to cleaning operatives.
Cleaning operatives are on the frontline of protecting public health – and as such have a key role to play in the fight against pests.
Public health pests can affect people’s physical and mental health, cause damage to property and impact businesses. Common pests include rats, mice, wasps and cockroaches, all of which can pose a risk to human health.
Rats, mice and cockroaches all carry bacteria that cause disease, while wasp stings can cause anaphylaxis – a severe allergic reaction. Rats and mice need to gnaw to maintain their teeth, and have been known to tackle wood, brick, pipes and cables, with flooding and electrical fires attributed to rodent activity.
Due to the nature of their work, cleaning operatives are on the frontline, protecting public health – and are perfectly placed to spot early signs of pest activity. To help workers across the cleaning industry understand the key role they have in pest prevention – and what to do if they come across signs that a pest is present in a home or business – the BPCA has created a new online training course: Pest Awareness for Cleaning Operatives.
Karen Dawes, Training Development Manager at the BPCA, said: “Cleaning operatives are perfectly placed to spot the first indications of pest activity such as gnaw marks or droppings in a home or business. Our Pest Awareness for Cleaning Operatives course is designed to help them understand what the signs of pests are, and what to do if they are found.
“The course gives participants a clear insight into the issues surrounding the pests they may come across in the course of their work, and how robust pest awareness helps keep their workplaces safer for themselves and their clients.”
The Pest Awareness for Cleaning Operatives course will cover:
- The role of cleaning operatives in pest management
- Why we control pests
- Health, safety and legislation relating to pest management
- Signs of pest activity
- Preventing pests
- Reporting pest problems
- The role of the professional pest technician
There are no prerequisites for the course, which is online and can be taken at any time on a desktop or mobile device, and a certificate can be downloaded on completion.
Karen added: “It’s important for cleaning operatives to understand the risks posed by pests and how legislation – such as regulations for food and hospitality businesses – may be relevant to their own work if they are operating in those environments. Cleaning operatives are also in a position to ensure pest prevention measures, such as proper waste disposal, are undertaken correctly and to ensure any potential problems are tackled swiftly.
“We always advocate contacting a pest management professional such as a BPCA member if an infestation is discovered, and the most important factor in how quickly and efficiently a pest issue can be dealt with is always how soon it is discovered – which is why cleaning operatives have such a crucial role to play in helping ensure premises remain pest-free.”
BPCA members:
- Carry the correct insurances
- Are trained and qualified technicians
- Are assessed to the British Standard in pest management EN 16636
- Follow BPCA’s Codes of Best Practice
A BPCA member company will have access to products not available to the public, as well as having the technical knowledge and experience to apply products in an efficient manner while minimising risk to the environment and non-target species. To find a BPCA member, visit the website below.
