Warehouse Pest Control Tips

Apr 07, 2021

The weather is warming up, the eCommerce business is booming, and warehouses are bigger than ever. This means that property owners and managers need to do everything they can to avoid pest and rodent infestations in their warehouses. This is especially important for food and beverage facilities as they face strict compliance guidelines.

An infestation isn’t just unsightly and unhygienic. Pests and rodents can also destroy inventory, carry disease, and cause costly work delays because of the downtime required for proper mitigation from pest control professionals. Understanding how to spot the signs of an infestation and prevent it in the first place is key to proper warehouse pest control.

Cockroaches: The Usual Suspect

Once you spot a live cockroach in your warehouse, it’s a sign that you already have a big problem on your hands. They leave plenty of evidence behind before they even come out into the light of day: Cockroach feces look like coffee grounds and can be a major clue that these pests set up shop in your facility. They also leave behind egg casings, a musty odor, and pathogens.

Just like humans (and many other pests), cockroaches need food, water, and shelter to survive — all of which are plentiful in your warehouse facility. A strategic, consistent cleaning plan goes a long way toward removing these temptations. Pay close attention to hotspots too, like trash receptacles and dumpster areas where trash or recyclables can overflow.

Birds: The Overlooked Pest

Your facility likely has plenty of high places for birds to nest in. Their flying and fluttering can be a distraction to employees, and their feces can become a real health hazard to your team and your products by spreading pathogens and creating safety challenges.

Check out the loading dock first to see how you can prevent birds from entering the warehouse in the first place. Keep loading dock doors closed when not in use, and enforce these practices among employees and truck drivers that load and unload on your docks. If you do need a professional to resolve an infestation, ensure that the birds in your local area aren’t a protected species and need special treatment for removal from your warehouse.

Flies: Common and Annoying

Even if you work hard to keep your warehouse clean with a consistent schedule, flies can still show up out of the blue. There are plenty of damp, dark corners that they can reside and live quite comfortably. The cracks, crevices, and opening doors make it nearly impossible to prevent flies from coming inside in the first place. Not only are they obnoxious, but they can also carry and spread diseases.

Focus on essentially anywhere that flies come from the outside world into your warehouse. That doesn’t just stop at poorly sealed windows and doors; it could also be drains, plumbing, HVAC vents, or trash chutes that lead to dumpsters. Put up signs that help with pest awareness in employee break rooms or trash collection areas to help remind your team about best practices.

Rodents: Just Plain Gross

All rats need to enter your warehouse is a gap the size of a quarter and mice only need a dime-sized hole. Just like cockroaches, rodents can quickly become a large-scale issue in your facility. Their droppings can spread disease to employees, products, and even customers, and it’s these droppings that will alert you as to where those rodents are spending the most of their time in your warehouse. 

Like with other pest infestations, the best and easiest way to prevent rodents from taking over is by stopping them from coming into your warehouse in the first place. Fill gaps and crevices, keep doors and windows closed securely. If your loading dock doors aren’t functioning properly, it’s time to call in an expert.

Proper warehouse equipment not only makes your operation more efficient, but also makes your business a safer place to work by preventing costly pest infestations. Whether you are building a whole new warehouse or keeping your old one in top shape, proper dock and doors save you time and money. Our on-site repair team is on call to fix any dock or door problem in your warehouse.

Ready to upgrade to help prevent pests from taking over? Let our experts design, procure, and install the right docks & doors for you. We provide sales, installation, service, and repair for the critical equipment in most warehouses — get in touch ASAP .

Common Hazards in Your Warehouse (And How to Avoid Them)

08 Apr, 2024
Warehouses are the backbone of many industries, storing and distributing goods to keep the economy moving. However, behind the scenes of this logistical hub lurk various hazards that can pose severe risks to employees and property. Let's investigate some of the most common warehouse hazards and explore proactive mitigation strategies. Slips/Trips/Falls Slips, trips, and falls are among the most prevalent hazards in warehouse spaces. Spills, cluttered aisles, and uneven surfaces can easily lead to accidents if not adequately addressed. To prevent such incidents, warehouses should prioritize proper housekeeping, including regular cleaning and maintenance of floors. Additionally, using signage to highlight potential hazards and ensuring adequate lighting throughout the facility can significantly reduce the risk of slips, trips, and falls. Fires Flammable materials and electrical equipment in warehouses make them susceptible to fires. Faulty wiring, improper storage of combustible materials, and lack of fire suppression systems can all contribute to the risk of fire outbreaks. Implementing preventive measures such as regular equipment maintenance, proper storage protocols for flammable materials, and employee training on fire safety procedures are crucial in mitigating this hazard. Harmful Substances Warehouses often house various chemicals and hazardous substances, which can pose risks to employees' health if not handled properly. Exposure to harmful substances can lead to respiratory issues, skin irritation, and other serious health problems. To mitigate this hazard, warehouses should properly store and label hazardous materials, provide employees with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), ensure adequate ventilation systems, and conduct regular training on safe handling procedures. Falling Objects With shelves stacked high with merchandise, falling objects present a significant hazard in warehouses. Poorly secured storage systems, improper stacking of items, and inadequate safety measures can all increase the risk of objects falling and causing injury. Warehouses can minimize this risk by adequately securing shelves and storage systems, using barriers or guardrails to prevent objects from falling, and conducting regular inspections of overhead storage areas. Overexertion The physical demands of warehouse work can lead to overexertion injuries if employees lack adequate training or don't perform tasks ergonomically. Lifting heavy objects, repetitive motions, and working in awkward positions can all contribute to overexertion injuries such as strains and sprains. To prevent such injuries, warehouses should provide comprehensive training on proper lifting techniques, encourage the use of mechanical aids such as forklifts and pallet jacks, and implement ergonomic workstations to reduce strain on employees' bodies.

Common Inventory Management Mistakes

08 Mar, 2024
Effective inventory management practices influence the success of each warehouse, the supply chain, and the business at large. Inventory management involves many moving parts and elements – everything from the product catalog to the warehouse space to tracked KPIs. Experienced warehouse managers know that no matter how fool-proof your inventory management systems are, there’s always room to improve and prepare for unexpected circumstances. Let’s discuss common inventory management mistakes (and what to do instead). Overstocking or Understocking One of the most prevalent inventory management mistakes is maintaining too much or too little inventory. Overstocking ties up valuable capital and warehouse space, leading to increased carrying costs and a higher risk of obsolescence. On the other hand, understocking can result in stockouts, backorders, and dissatisfied customers. Businesses should leverage historical sales data, market trends, and advanced forecasting techniques to accurately predict demand and optimize inventory levels. Inaccurate Demand Forecasting Businesses are prone to making costly inventory planning errors without precise demand forecasting. Relying on outdated data or flawed forecasting methods can lead to inefficiencies and missed opportunities. By utilizing advanced analytics and predictive modeling, businesses can better anticipate shifts in demand, seasonal fluctuations, and emerging trends, allowing for more informed inventory decisions and improved responsiveness to customer needs. Lack of Inventory Visibility Poor visibility into inventory levels across multiple locations or channels can result in operational inefficiencies and errors. Without real-time data on stock levels and movement, businesses may struggle to fulfill orders on time, leading to customer dissatisfaction and lost sales. Implementing integrated inventory management systems that provide comprehensive visibility into inventory across the supply chain can help businesses optimize inventory allocation, reduce stockouts, and improve overall operational performance.

A Beginner’s Guide to Electric Forklifts

By Denis Benden • 08 Feb, 2024
Efficient material handling is crucial for businesses of all sizes and industries. It directly impacts productivity, cost-effectiveness, and overall operational success. Effective material handling ensures that goods are moved, stored, and transported in a streamlined and organized manner, minimizing delays, damages, and errors. Electric forklifts play a significant role in effective material handling, transforming the […] The post A Beginner’s Guide to Electric Forklifts appeared first on Benco Industrial Equipment.
More Posts
Share by: