Restaurants and commercial kitchens now have a professional guide available to them for managing pests in the workplace.

No not the human kind of pest, but rather the kind found lurking in the darkest corners of kitchens everywhere.

The Australian Environmental Pest Managers Association (AEPMA) has put together the Pest Management Handbook for Food Service Business Operators.

It’s a ‘must have’ book that will help keep you out of trouble from compliance officers and re-assure customers or clients that you have their health at top of mind.

As well as helping commercial kitchen operators choose the right professional pest manager, the book also offers tips and advice on how to self-manage an environment that is attractive to pests, where it is appropriate.

AEPMA President David Gay says the handbook also gives some guidance on the effectiveness and suitability of pest management products and devices.

“Keeping kitchens clean of pests is taken seriously by the relevant authorities with fines of up to $100,000 if regulations aren’t adhered to. And that’s before civil suits that may result from customers falling ill as a result of a pest infestation,” Mr Gay said.

Offenders can be named and shamed by a government, causing enormous reputation damage.

The booklet encourages food service business operators to visit their relevant state health authority websites to make sure they understand their responsibilities when it comes to pest management.

For instance some states require that licensed pest managers do the work as this ensures that commercial kitchen operators are taking pest management seriously,” Mr Gay said.

The handbook details the types of pests likely to be found in a kitchen and discusses the concept of integrated pest management which basically means not relying on one method of control but introducing a wide range of control options from planning to inspections and actual pest destruction or deterrent.

David Gay says best practice in the food preparation industry involves a combination of record keeping, being aware of the industry code of practice and choosing a pest manager who is licensed and right for the job.

“AEPMA has developed a comprehensive Code of Practice for pest management in the food industry in Australia and New Zealand which goes into extraordinary detail on the topic,” Mr Gay said

The Code of Practice is also freely available from AEPMA and should go hand in hand with the handbook.

The Code of Practice can be easily found on the AEPMA website at www.aepma.com.au where you will also find an online version of the handbook.

For further information, contact the AEPMA National Office on 1300 307 114 or email info@aepma.com.au. 

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