Page 29 - FoodFocusThailand No.209 AUGUST 2023

SPECIAL FOCUS

Pest management planning and execution by Norvegicus (also known as the brown rat) prefer habitats on lower
utilizing at least 2 or more methods, such as spraying floors, pipes, or hollow cavities and dislike high places. In contrast,
pesticides to eradicate German cockroaches, including Rattus Rattus (also known as roof rat or black rat) can climb well and
physical methods such as glue traps and vacuum cleaners live on lower floors, under roofs, ceilings, or trees. Hence, the method
to collect the cockroach carcasses 2 hours after pesticide of preventing each type of rat requires different approaches. Moreover,
spraying. Other sanitary measures should also be applied, the responsible person should conduct regular inspection rounds to
such as cleaning the area with hot water and other determine pests’ tendencies or the extent of the damage that may
housekeeping practices by following the 5S Principle. occur and consider methods of control, safe and proper prevention,
Building maintenance and repairs should also be handled and elimination methods for maximum effectiveness.
to prevent pests from entering the building. Many factors affect the management of pests, such as food odors,
food scraps, and waste from the workplace, all of which plays an
Monitor and evaluate the performance to assess important role in attracting such pests. Also, building structures’ gaps,
the remaining pests and determine whether it meets the nooks, or cracks are good hiding places and habitats for these
targets. unwanted visitors. Moreover, some factories have a round-the-clock
production line which may make it challenging to implement an
Conduct a review of the pest management plan to effective pest management plan, especially when it involves lights
see the strengths or weaknesses, and use them as future that illuminate the surrounding buildings, thus attracting nocturnal
guidelines for further improvement and development of insects that eventually infiltrate the building. In addition, the amount
the pest management plan. of dust, powder, and grease deposits can reduce insecticide efficacy.
From the above methods, the assigned person to Therefore, regular cleaning by different methods may mitigate the
handle the primary management responsibility must be residual effects of such insecticide. Furthermore, the decision to delay
well-versed with the different types of pests, including the implementation of improvement processes, building maintenance,
knowledge concerning their biology and behavior, so that or the cost of an effective and appropriate management plan may
the appropriate method or approach can be applied for be crucial factors affecting pest management.
the prevention and elimination. Even though they are the
same type of pest, they may be of different species with
different behaviors or habitats. For example, Rattus More Information Service Info C002

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