9 replies to this topic

[Sweet'n'low]

Hello all, 

 

I am in need of some guidance in regards to mosquitoes entering the premises. My manager and I know that the root cause of the entrance of mosquitoes is due to screens being ripped and needing to be replaced. When we bring this up to upper management we get pointed into purchasing a Indoor Insect trap that utilizes UV and CO2 to attract mosquitoes and other insects at night. 

 

My question is, because I am fairly new to SQF and SQF Code, is there a limitation or anything that is prohibited in being used for this issue? The mosquitoes this summer up till now have been worse than previous years due to rainfall and humidity. We are a plastics manufacturing plant so there is no direct contact with food, but we do produce food packaging. Our second shift employees mentioned the need to use bug spray to keep the bugs away, but if they are mentioning wanting to use it, chances are they already are. That to me poses for a possible chemical contamination if the spray lingers onto product in the area. 

 

Any insight on this issue would be appreciated. 

 

Thank you.

[Scampi]

Use gorilla tape to seal the screens

 

Spray malathion around the perimeter of the building

 

remove standing water/debris

 

Don't waste money on an indoor trap until you've at least temporarily stopped the bugs from coming in

 

Food packaging should be handled in the same manner as the food going into it which means no chemicals allowed

 

An auditor is going to question why there is a trap inside when you are supposed to be preventing the need

 

You could put down wood chips or straw over areas where they are breeding to help try and stop the reproductive cycle

 

If you tape all the wholes and the employees start grumbling about the heat/lack of air movement you can bet that there are going to get new ones fast

[Sweet'n'low]

Scampi, 

 

We have a contractor for bugs, insects, vermin, rodents, etc. I have contacted them about possibly putting up another light, but with no avail on responding. 

As for gorilla tape, we have the material to correctly fix the screens, its just out maintenance person is fairly new and is getting acclimated to repairing and doing preventative maintenance on machines. 

 

We have no standing water in the building. The only water usage that is done is for hand washing, mopping, and for water going into the machines. I do my daily rounds checking for standing water, and it is not an issue. 

 

I don't think breeding is an issue inside the plant. It is the fact that they enter through screens. Lately we have had the windows closed due to temperatures being cooled drastically from previous weeks, the number of mosquitoes has decreased greatly. Only thing is, if it heats up again in the middle of October, we may see another rise. 

 

I appreciate the feedback and will try to look at things in perspective of an auditor in the future. 

[Brendan Triplett]

Kkalpakidis,

 

I believe we spoke about this in another post some time ago.  The use of pest spray in your facility will get you a ding with SQF so steer away from it and focus on the root cause of these bugs unless the bug spray is food safe.  Prevention in your facility will help with replacing the screens.  UV traps or killers inside will also help.  Look for ways to treat the area outside with larvicide or something that will kill the bugs before they get into your facility if it is at all possible.  Check out this link to someone that had it far worse. There were a lot of good conversations on it:

 

https://www.ifsqn.co...or-suggestions/

 

Cheers!

[Sweet'n'low]

Brendan, 

 

I will contact our contractor, Orkin, about the external spraying that you mentioned in the link you've posted. I do remember reading that post only because Simon added his "will not help" comment of Disney. 

 

Thanks again. 

[Brendan Triplett]

Keep us posted on your results.  Always good to know if we were on the right track!

[Scampi]

There are some chemicals that can be applied on the interior walls and floor junctions that are approved...............but you need to empty the room and then wash the machinery after it's applied but will get you about 3 months of residual function

Like malathion.....

[Sweet'n'low]

I just contacted Orkin, our contractor for this issue.

 

Stopping production for three months at this point is out of the question because our busy season just started. The SQF team here will start with any preventative actions to be taken (i.e fix screens, adjust windows, etc) so it does not need to escalate. 

 

I will most certainly keep you in the loop, and I appreciate the feedback. 

[012117]

Hi, Kkpaldis.

 

On one hand, I would suggest you review again with your pest contractor re: your IPM. On what frequency do they make visit and rounds? The IPM contractor should be more knowledgeable or would react immediately if he sees trend are increasing or barrier is not anymore sufficient.

 

For residual, I don't know if it can be sprayed internally, I don't think it is possible as normally internal area are sprayed with non residual one due to risk of possible chemical contamination. Given the rainy season, it would be somehow useless to spray residual in outside external surface. You may want to thermal fogging outside.

 

I agree however to find the breeding ground and correct it immediately.  Change lighting whenever possible, or if you have opening where light is highly visible outside, may consider installing yellow plastic curtain.  If in post #3 say you have no problem with standing water and yet you have high mosquito sightings, then you may want to challenge yourself or your observations on why the mosquito are going 1st in my facility then why it goes inside my plant. Normally it is because you have attraction (light or whatsoever) and breeding ground (water - or in case you may need to look more further - what is the trend of your insect light traps). The IPM contractor should have better input on why it keeps on coming.

[gud2ya]

insect light traps. best solution is still to prevent pest entry