No matter what industry you're in, evidence of a pest infestation can lead to fines, temporary shutdowns, loss of revenue, and major hits to your reputation. Inspections will vary depending on the type of business you're running, but it's your job as a business owner to know when to call in professional pest control experts. You can count on a company like Terminix Commercial to be up to date on the latest local and national regulations and understand how to apply them to your business. Here's what to consider when it comes to business compliance and pest control practices.
What Does Business Compliance Mean?
Every type of business has its own set of laws and regulations to follow to ensure the safety of employees and customers. The specifics will vary by industry, state and local laws where your business is located. When it comes to pest control, sanitation practices, prevention, and the types of treatments that you use to tackle an infestation are important aspects of staying compliant.
Need expert advice? Learn more about our pest control services.
Guidelines for Pest Management
While guidelines for pest management vary from state to state, it all stems from a few federal agencies that set the bar for compliance.
USDA's Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
A science-based decision-making process that combines tools and strategies to identify and manage pests. IPM is meant to provide a “sustainable approach to managing pests by combining biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health, and environmental risks." Terminix Commercial uses an IPM program in its pest control services.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The EPA works to protect human health and the environment, which includes the use of pesticides. From educational resources to the best tips for controlling common pests like rodents and flies, the government site is a useful resource for understanding how pest control affects the country. They also provide links to individual state regulatory agencies if you're looking for more information.
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
FIFRA is a Federal statute that governs the registration, distribution, sale and use of pesticides in the U.S. The primary objective is to ensure that pesticides won't cause unreasonable risk to human health or the environment and helps inform the regulations adopted by each state for proper pest control.
Adhering to federal guidelines is essential but drilling down to state- and industry-specific laws will ensure your business is compliant when it comes to pest control. Your local health and safety agency can provide you with the details on what is required of your business in order to be compliant, so don't wait for an inspection to find out what you need to do.
The food service and processing industry is especially vulnerable to violations that could impact food safety and spread foodborne illness. The FDA has compiled a list of State Retail and Food Service Code Regulations by State, so make sure to read up on the best practices in your area.
If you have questions about pesticide applications in other industries, contact your state regulatory agency.
Call in the Experts
When you're running a business, DIY pest control solutions can be tempting. Unfortunately, many DIY solutions prove ineffective and could actually make things worse. A professional pest control company like Terminix Commercial is licensed in the proper use of pesticides and pest control techniques and has the training and experience to tackle infestations safely and effectively.
If you want to be sure your business is compliant and stays that way, invest in regular inspections. We can point out vulnerabilities in your business, help you stay on top of repairs and maintenance, and prevent pest problems before they get out of control and become an infestation.
The bottom line is that making sure your business is compliant with pest control guidelines can be complicated. Leave it up to Terminix Commercial to help ensure you're following the right procedures to protect your business.
Don't wait for things to escalate. Call us at 877.837.6464 to schedule service or request a free quote.
