A new perspective on rodent management
Pests, whether you are a facility manager, wholesaler, catering entrepreneur, or manager of a building, you are responsible for preventing, detecting, and controlling them. The latter is becoming increasingly difficult though. From 2017, chemical control of rodents outdoors may only be carried out by professionals in the pest control industry. However, as of 1st January 2023, new legislation requires the application of an integrated rodent management system outdoors as well as indoors.
Dutch industry organization KPMB refers to ‘a new perspective on rodent management’. Pest management companies have been preparing for this new legislation by taking further training and qualifying for certification. This means that from 2023 you may no longer be able to work with chemical pesticides yourself, but that you can always call on a certified pest management company. And that is good to know!
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
But of course, you prefer not to have any rodents or other pests in or around your building at all. And that is exactly what pest control today focuses on: preventing pests rather than controlling them. Control in the literal sense of the word is the last resort. The method is called Integrated Pest Management, or IPM. It is a sustainable method to control pests only when preventive measures have proven to be inadequate.
Your organization probably already adheres to the basic regulations regarding hygiene conditions. However, architectural factors play a role as well. Did you know, for example, that mice can make their way into your building through an opening of half a centimetre? That’s why architectural advice is part of a good pest management plan. As well as advice regarding habitat. Everything to keep unwanted guests out.
Partner
Cooperation between pest manager and customer is essential to this. No matter how professionally and competently your IPM technician does their job, lasting results are not self-evident without commitment and involvement from you, the client. So, when it comes to pest management, you would rather look for a partner than ‘just’ a service provider.
After taking stock, a good partner in pest management will map out the nature, extent, severity and risks of any pest already present. This results in a tailor-made pest management plan including a map, plan of approach, an agreement, advice and action points for you, the client. Action points include, for example, filling holes with steel wool or minimizing cracks with brush weather stripping.
Teamwork
In order to ensure that the measures are effective, good communication between pest manager and client is important. Pest managers often work with an online communication system that both parties have access to. Convenient for the client to stay informed of the findings of the pest manager and essential to the pest manager to know what actions the client has already taken.
This creates teamwork between pest manager and client, with successful pest management as a result. Successful in the sense that you keep any unwanted guests out, and successful in the sense that you don’t have to resort to chemical agents such as those prohibited from 1st January 2023 for controlling rodents. If, in a worst-case scenario, chemical control turns out the be the only way out, then know that a KPMB-certified pest management company is your partner!
Contact
EWS Group is that certified pest management company. Want to know how we can be of service to you? Feel free to contact us via + 31 (0)183 301270 or j.vanderhoeven@ews-group.com.