Getting the best of pests

In modern office blocks people are always bemused on how insect and rodent pests get into their work place. Safeguard’s experience has found that most insect infestations are brought in by people and on goods. An example of this is the explosion of bedbug infestations in all types of environments including hotels and offices. All caused by humans carrying them in on their clothes and personal items.  An office worker who has a dog or cat at home with fleas, leaves an article of clothing in their office.  This may have pet hairs on it containing fleas’ eggs or pupae, which hatch and then feed on fellow workers.

We often see cockroaches in food supplies brought into commercial kitchens. Rodents have been transported in a wheelie bin from a basement bin room up to a restaurant several floors above ground.

On many occasions we find it difficult to put across to property managers the disease risks that pests pose to people. This has recently been highlighted in the terrible deaths of two people in a Glasgow hospital that has been linked directly to feral pigeon faeces. Safeguard has always emphasised the potential risks of having pests of any kind in or on buildings.  

Understanding the species

Safeguard has been successfully partnering Principle Cleaning Services for many years, helping to keep some of the most prestigious buildings in London pest free. The cooperation between us helps to resolve issues quickly, as cleaning regimes have a direct effect on pest activity. As members of the British Pest Control Association we provide pest prevention services to their high standards.

It is not enough! Just because a company has accreditations as long as your arm and ‘talk the talk’ it does not mean a thing to a rat or a cockroach. It is understanding the pest species, why it is there and how do we get rid of it?

One of the main pests affecting buildings is the House Mouse. This rodent can get through a hole small enough to push a pencil, breeding every three weeks. Once in, a mouse moves up and around a building following the pipework and cabling. We unwittingly provide easy food sources though spillages that deliver a banquet to this natural scavenger. Their urine and droppings contaminate surfaces plus their constant gnawing can damage electrical wires and cause a fire risk.

Cockroaches are the world’s born survivors with around 30 different species associated with human habitats in the UK. They eat just about anything and are found everywhere in the UK. The sight of a cockroach scuttling across a kitchen is distinctly unsavoury and a potential health risk. Keeping areas spotlessly clean and clutter free, along with prompt action from a pest control professional, are all successful ways forward.  

Latest techniques & equipment

As a company we are at the forefront of innovation for our industry, using the most modern techniques and equipment available. There are several examples of this such as using Harris hawks to disperse flocks of pest birds and specially trained dogs to pinpoint bedbug activity. If rats and mice will not eat rodenticide bait we use a rodenticide foam that clings to their fur and, as they groom themselves, they unknowingly ingest the poison. We use cockroach gels that are completely safe to humans but deadly to all stages of their life cycle.

The safety of Safeguard’s staff and clients is a number one priority and we always look to use the safest and most efficient pesticides available.

There is no doubt that our close relationship with Principle Cleaning Services has resulted in keeping some of the largest buildings in London pest free, which is no mean feat in this modern age.