Frequency of inspection for insect detectors
Dear All,
Does anyone have an international standard specifying the frequency of inspection for insect detectors?
Kindly assist and would be grateful.
Kind regards,
Maurice.
Hi maurice to best answer you q- are using glue based or the zapper-style?
annual frequency is usually the norm on both cases..
Bulbs in ILTs must be changed according to manufacturer’s recommendations but in any case at least annually. Shatter protection must be in place where food or packaging may become contaminated by glass.
Sticky type ILTs must be monitored at least monthly and the sticky board must be replaced. Type of insects on the board must be recorded and categorized according to above.
source: National Pest Management Association, Inc. Pest Management Standards for Food Plants
hope that helps..
You could always contact a pest control operator and ask them where they get their standards. Are you responsible for all the pest control at your facility on your own? Many companies contract out these services as it is worth the cost to have the peace-of-mind.
It really depends on your pest control program and contractor. Our insect lights are inspected for functionality daily by QAs and weekly by the pest control tech. If something were to break or malfunction, it would not be long before its fixed. The last thing you want is something flying past a broken insect light and land in the product or even worse, someone smashing it and then not changing gloves. We have had issues with our sanitation company getting our lights wet.
I don't think there is any international standard that determine inspection frequency of insect detector. The frequency may be determined based on pest control program, type of detector, risk of insect infestation (based on historical data or any source of data) and location of detector.
The frequency of inspection should be based on risk assessment, which I know is always the standard reply! What are your historical levels like? If they are substantial then your frequency should be increased so as to give usable trend analysis and appropriate and timely controls. What type of insect detector are you looking at? Is it an electric fly killer or small crawling insect sticky traps? If EFK then tubes should be changed just before the start of the insect season to ensure maximum effect.
we use the sticky type and the pest control company checks them every 2 weeks. (we also have a 3 foot zone taped off in front of them to prevent any raw materials or finished goods being placed underneath and having dead bugs possible fall off onto product.)