subject: Pest Control Company Carries Out Survey [print this page] Recent research has shown that over one-in-ten UK SMEs (small and medium enterprises) suffer pest problems in the work place. Despite the evidence only 40 per cent of the businesses surveyed said they had a pest strategy to keep them at bay.
A pest infestation in a company can cause different kinds of damage to the business depending on the sector and although rodent and pest problems are most common in hospitality and food based businesses and production there is no reason why it couldnt be an issue for companies in offices too.
The primary concern for business owners if faced with a pest control problem was for their employees. The staff are a companys biggest asset and over half of the businesses surveyed said that they would be firstly concerned on how their staff would respond to a pest control problem. Secondly they were worried about damaging their reputation which would therefore affect their customer relations.
Pests, especially rodents, can cause physical damage as well. They can cause havoc structurally in a building, particularly if they decide to live in the walls, they gnaw cables which can ruin computers and other electrical items and soil and damage other areas. This is not only traumatic for staff members but will also be costly to repair in the long run.
When the pest control company conducted the research they also asked why they thought pests became a problem in the work place. 79% responded with the answer of a lack of effective cleaning and maintenance in the building, 56% attributed the problem to eating habits or sharing a communal kitchen and 54% said that it was because staff eat at their desks.
There are varying factors why a work place can become infested. The location, age, condition and way the building has been constructed are directly related to the chance of having a pest problem along with whether food is available on site and if there is any waste or good stored near the offices.
If you are worried about pests in your company it is worthwhile to contact a pest control company to make sure that you do not suffer from any long term consequences. Even if you do not have a problem they will be able to identify any risks and advise you on how to remain pest free. This vastly reduces the chance of a problem occurring in the future and gives you peace of mind that your company will not be affected if anything were to arise.
