Sustainable Shortcuts to Green Pest Management

Expected to meet the highest level of cleanliness, healthcare facilities must follow strict standards when it comes to sanitation and maintenance. And when abiding by the The Joint Commission standards, it’s important not to forget that sustainable pest management is just as effective for your facility as traditional treatments.

To start, make sure you have an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan in place that will involve your entire staff and pest management partner – this will help you focus on ongoing inspections and proactive exclusion in areas where pests could be invading your facility. Using chemical treatments only when necessary, IPM’s environmentally friendly approach could also help you earn credits toward Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) certification while simultaneously helping keep pests out. (Check out our Shortcuts to Sustainable Pest Management for more information on making your facility a fortress against common crawling pests).

Here’s what you need to help make sure your facility is leading with sustainability:

• Proactive steps. Use techniques that improve sanitation, maintenance and mechanical controls.

• Measuring pest activity. Define thresholds for when pest population levels become a nuisance or health hazard to focus on the size, scope and intensity of your IPM plan.

• Ongoing “hot spot” monitoring. Inspect hot spots of your facility for the areas that attract pests the most—lobbies, waiting rooms, break rooms, cafeterias and storage areas. Be sure to remove trash, cleanup standing water, maintain clean storage and food areas, reduce clutter and eliminate other unsanitary conditions.

• Green pest management. While some pest treatments are not suitable for healthcare environments – especially near patients with weak immune, neurological and respiratory systems – low-impact pest treatments can fight pests, while ensuring the safety of your patients and staff.

• Detailed documentation. Maintain records of the risk-based corrective and preventive actions you’re taking to monitor pest control in each building.

Make sure to choose the right pest management professional to identify weak points and create a custom IPM plan that is tailored to your facility’s needs.

To learn more IPM, documentation and must-do’s before considering chemical pest applications, watch these three how-to videos.