Validation of prerequisites such as pest control

So a customer code of practice requires that the prerequisites are validated. I can understand how this would work for something like cleaning, but how would you go about a validation for pest control for example?

Has anyone done this?

It seems like some definitions are in order. 

They are either going to get a lot of pencil-whipped nonsense, or vendors will just decide their business isn't worth the trouble of performing validations on everything from potable water and GMPs to calibration and sanitation procedures.

For the products used in many prerequisite programs (sanitation products, pest control devices, etc), some validation info might be sourced from the manufacturer. These validation studies may be valid for your facility if you're sticking with the manufacturer's prescriptions for use on their products. For pest control, this may be figures like how many traps to have given the size/layout of your facility. If you pest control is handled by a third-party like many companies do, you should ask your pest control company for more information.

The evidence should demonstrate that the control measures is capable of successfully mitigating the risk of pest infestation.

Examples of evidence that would be helpful for validation include:

1. Documentation of regular pest control inspections, including dates, findings, and corrective actions taken.

2. Pest control service provider reports, detailing the strategies implemented and the results achieved.

3. Records of any pest-related incidents, along with the corresponding actions taken to rectify the situation.

4. Monitoring records, such as trap placements and observations, to demonstrate the ongoing monitoring of pest activity.

5. Any other relevant documentation or data that supports the effectiveness of the control measures.

   We had to do something similar with our Pre-Requisite Programs.  I don't know if it is right or wrong, although we never received any negative feedback, we looked for Scientific or Technical Supporting Documentation for each program.  For pest Control you might consider  The National Pest Management Association 2016 Pest Management Standards for Food as a supporting document.  Plants. https://www.npmapest...electronic.pdf 

   Based on the supporting document you use, you can develop some Critical Operational Parameters that you identified that ensures the Pest Prevention Program is effective.  Some examples could be:

• Ensuring the Pest Control Operator / Contractor is licensed / qualified
• Pest Management Plan has been developed and documented and meets the guidance of the supporting document 
• The frequencies of services, bait used, location of bait traps and light stations and pests of concern are documented and meet the plan requirements. 

Then ensure your documentation supports that you are meeting the parameters that you listed to validate your Pest Management Program is effective.

ALL
 

This just sounds like annual internal auditing/reassessment of your overall plan (which ya'll should be doing)

For pest control, I place business cards in random traps with my initials and dates and my PCO returns them to me, it's a way of VERIFYING that the control is being done as per the program

you cannot VALIDATE something without statistical parameters.

Validation is defined as “to support or corroborate on a sound or authoritative basis” or to “establish validity of the HACCP plan by supplying factual proof.” Within HACCP, validation is “the element of verification focused on collecting and evaluating scientific and technical information to determine if the HACCP ...

To validate the temperature chosen, we could refer to legislation, scientific journals or other data that supports the cooking temperature we have selected will kill the harmful bacteria. Verification is best defined as being the things we do to see if we are actually doing what we say we are going to do.

Hi jay2023,

Validation would be in the supplier approval stage with confirmation that your contractor is licenced and the pest controller’s technicians/biologist are suitably qualified and trained. This will include a service specification and contract.

Verification will be that the contracted service is effectively managing/preventing pests (& site measures are in place and effective) by internal audit of the pest controller’s documents/records, inspections, treatments and pest control devices/measures. Pest control can also be included in site hygiene and housekeeping inspections to assess level of control.

You can check yourself that pest control devices have been serviced/inspected as scheduled by the pest controller as there should be a label on/in the device for them to initial and date.

Kind regards,

Tony

My simple definition of validation (outside or HACCP) is proving that what you are doing is achieving the desired result.  Is it effective?    In the case of pest control, you could have several ways to validate that your program is effective.  Low number of X pests caught, no pest infestations, trending of devices, complaints, expert opinion such as a survey done by your PCO, third party audits.   

The idea is that you evaluate the program(s) and decide if they are achieving the intended result.   If they are not you need to make changes.

If you caught 50 mice inside a small facility each month -  Your pest control program is probably not achieving the desired result. Its not effective.

If most of your employees cant answer simple GMP questions correctly - your training program might not be effective.

If you have a whole bunch of metal, bone, glass, or other FM complaints - your foreign material program might not be effective.

If 50% of your ATP swabs fail every cleaning - your sanitation program might not be very effective.

If equipment is continually breaking down - your preventative maintenance program might not be effective.