Pest Control: How to Be Prepared for Your Next Food Safety Audit

To make sure you’re prepared for an audit:

• Communicate with your pest control provider on an ongoing basis throughout your partnership. While they are the expert when it comes to pests, you know your facility better than anyone. Taking a proactive role in the partnership will help prevent pest issues in the long run.
• Involve your entire staff in the IPM plan; they know the most about your facility and may spot pests or other issues before you do.
• Conduct annual assessments, regular inspections, and risk assessments with your pest control provider to ensure your IPM plan remains effective and proper.
• Make sure you’re aware of any changes to your pest control service, and be sure to document them. The pandemic altered the way many facilities were able to work with their pest control providers, so document any changes prior to your audit.
• Don’t wait until the last minute to get your documentation in order, because it takes time to compile the information. Your pest control provider should have hard copies of all the essential reports and paperwork, but keeping them digitally is also a good idea. Most pest control providers have digital systems for documentation that even provide trend reports and analysis your auditor will appreciate. It’s also easier to share documentation digitally when there are so many required items.
• Your pest control provider should have proof of their training available for your records as well.

In this time of heightened public health concern, food safety audits shouldn’t be ignored in an effort to keep the supply chain moving at all costs. Even if your audit is conducted virtually due to social distancing requirements, your documentation still will be required. Working with the right pest control provider for your business and being a proactive partner will help ensure that your next food safety audit is a success.