Pest awareness among cleaning operatives is crucial to preventing issues with pests, as cleaners are often best placed to spot the initial signs of infestation across residential, commercial and industrial environments.
Early intervention is key to preventing infestations becoming established, which means cleaning operatives who are trained in spotting the signs of pest activity and understand the appropriate actions needed, are a valuable first line of defence.
It is important for cleaners to understand the risks posed by pests and how legislation – such as regulations for food and hospitality businesses – may be relevant to their work when operating in those environments.
Some pest species are vectors of disease, spreading bacteria across surfaces and tainting food, while others may bite or sting. Certain species can cause damage to property or equipment or contaminate products.
Common pests in the UK include rats, mice, wasps, cockroaches, birds, bed bugs, fleas and Stored Product Insects (SPIs).
British Pest Control Association’s Pest Awareness for Cleaning Operatives course is designed to help cleaners understand what the signs of pests are and what to do if they spot them.
“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,” said Karen Dawes, Training Manager at BPCA.
The short course covers the key role cleaning operatives have in pest management, why pests need controlling, the health, safety and legislation relating to pest management and the signs of pest activity alongside the importance of prevention, reporting problems and the role of the professional pest technician.
There are no prerequisites for participants to take the online course, which they can access at any time from a computer or mobile device, and a certificate is available to download on completion.
Full details are available here: Pest Awareness for Cleaning Operatives.
Larger contractors providing pest management services can access the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH)/BPCA Level 2 Pest Management Award which gives operatives the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills required to operate safely and effectively as a public health pest control technician.
Detailed information about the RSPH/BPCA Level 2 Award in Pest Management including course fees and locations is available at www.bpca.org
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