Restaurants in the Summer Months

It is the summer, and we in the UK are experiencing hot weather at the moment. This can inspire great joy and presents many opportunities for leisure. Weather of this nature, with high temperatures, encourages friends and families to dine out at restaurants in greater numbers than is usually the case. Refreshment is sought when people are encouraged by improvements in their overall mood by the increase in sunlight and ambient temperature. This results in a higher risk of the transmission of disease to customers simply by virtue of the upsurge in business. From the perspective of restaurant patrons and managers, whether they are relatively new to the trade, or even if they are highly experienced, it is worth taking a moment to remind yourselves about common sense legal requirements pertaining to pest control for your business.

The importance of pest control to work environments involving the preparation, serving and waste management of food cannot be underestimated. Pests have the capacity to carry harmful bacteria that can contaminate foods and food products and cause illness. Such harmful bacteria can be transmitted to food resulting in contamination by contact with the hair, faeces and urine of pests. It is also well worth taking into consideration the fact that pests can cause serious damage to the fabric and structure of food serving premises.

By ‘pests’ here we include the following animals and birds: rats, mice and other rodents; insects such as flies, cockroaches, beetles, ants, wasps, bees and other creatures that might be found in stored products; birds, such as pigeons, starlings, sparrows, crows and seagulls.

The risk posed by such creatures to your food serving business can be greatly reduced when you engage Key West to implement measures that will help pest-proof the structure and fabric of your commercial premises. At Key West, we believe that prevention is the most effective route to take, and are experts in the provision of preventative measures. Such measures are contrived with the overall aim of ensuring that your commercial premises are in good condition and repair such that access to pests is restricted and the opportunity to provide potential breeding sites is greatly reduced. We would take measures such as the use of wire mesh screens to pest proof air vents, the sealing of holes and other access areas, providing the advice, where it is needed, that floors, walls, roof, doors and window openings are in a good state of repair and devoid of gaps and spaces. We would also advise on the fitting of covers on drains in order to prevent access.

We know, and we make restaurant owners aware that windows that open directly into areas in which the preparation of food is carried out must be fitted with screens capable of resisting common flying insects – ideally the apertures in the screens ought to be 2mm square or less. We know that screens must also be removable in order to allow for cleaning. We know that doors open to the outside air must also be fitted with such screens.

In addition, at Key West, we can advise on the correct and compliant use of electronic fly-killing devices, their maintenance and cleaning. We have the expert knowledge to advise on the inspection of perishable stock and food products and how to recognise whether stock has visible signs of damage. We know how to maintain the cleanliness and protective measures required for refuse stores. We can advise and help you plan procedures to ensure that foods awaiting preparation, being defrosted, or undergoing a process of cooling must remain covered.

At Key West, we are able to produce ongoing compliant pest prevention plans for your food serving business that ensures the correct measures are undertaken for the containment of food waste and the frequency of its removal. We will factor into your plan the necessary procedures to ensure that food is stored off the floor and away from walls, in rodent proof containers. We can advise on how vegetation around the exterior of your commercial premises ought to be kept to a minimum.

In the food industry, especially on premises which involve food production and preparation, it is crucial that surfaces are kept clean and highly hygienic and the presence of pests is indeed unacceptable. Key West's network of local technicians covering the UK and Ireland provide tailored commercial pest control services and provide advice on best practice and what business owners should be doing in order to comply with legislation.

According to the 1990 Food Hygiene Regulations, the “walls, floors, doors, windows, ceiling, woodwork and all other parts of the structure of every food room shall be kept clean and shall be kept in good order, repair and condition as to prevent so far as reasonably practical the entry of birds, and any risk of infestation by rats, mice, insects and other pests”. In short, in order to make sure that your business complies with requirements described by the Food Hygiene Regulations 2006 you need to do your utmost to uphold the highest food hygiene standards and prevent pest contamination.

Section 21 of the Food Safety Act 1990 allows anyone who may be facing legal action to use the defence of “due diligence” during the proceedings. Due diligence is taken into account and you can defend yourself by proving that you have taken all reasonable precautions to avoid the offence being committed.

Engaging the services of Key West Pest Control for your restaurant of food service business means that we will devise a plan for the maintenance of preventative measures, we will monitor your commercial premises with regularity, reports will be written on the well-being of your commercial premises from the perspective of pest control, and corrective action will be carried out if it is required. 

Key West Sponsorship: Methley Under-11’s Football Team

The village of Methley, located near Oulton, Rothwell, Allerton Bywater, Woodlesford and Mickleton, south east of Leeds within the triangle formed by Wakefield, Castleford and Leeds, can boast some very interesting points of interest. The Yorkshire Imperial Band, formerly known as the Yorkshire Imperial Copperworks Band, used to rehearse in Methley. Composer Edward Elgar was friends with the former owner of ‘The Cedars’, which is now a residential home, and used to stay as a house guest. The drummer of the Kaiser Chiefs, Nick Hodgson, has family connections in Methley; and each year the village holds a scarecrow festival. Methley has a history of mining and records of the existence of a location called Methley go back as far as 1086. Add to these tributes the fact that the village is home to a well-regarded junior football club: Methley JFC.

Key West Pest Control is proud to sponsor the Under-11’s football team at Methley JFC and our name and logo will be appearing on the Under-11’s football shirts in the new season. The club trains children and young people across a broad range of ages from Under-6’s to Under-17’s, including both girls and boys.

Fixtures for matches and the administration of league activity requires a great deal of organisation. Consequently, the administration of the club is governed by committee. The club is keen to keep opportunities open for all and operates an official Anti-Discrimination and Equal Opportunities Policy. Not only is the club welcoming in this way, Methley JFC collects feedback on its activities from playing members and parents.

The club acts as a local hub, not only for the promotion of fitness, good health and sporting prowess, but as a community focal point. Social events and one-off intra-club friendly events such as Parents versus Kids matches provide family fun. While keeping things fun within an organised structure is essential to the vibrancy and success of the club as an important part of the local community, this does not distract from the serious business of training and playing matches. Support is always at hand for players wishing to learn more about tactics, training methods, set pieces and the general improvement of individual skill.

With this in mind the club is technologically up to date in giving playing members an online forum to discuss matters relating to skills improvement and the club general on their website. Experienced coaches are more than willing to impart advice and guidance where it is needed. Support is always there.

Key West is very proud to be sponsoring the Under-11’s for these reasons. It is important to us to make a positive contribution to the local community, as a part of a wider, regional community from which we derive our business. It is a way for us to give back. If we can do it in a way that contributes to the well-being of a community by providing a focal point around which a structured and healthy activity is centred, so much the better.

To Methley Under-11’s and Methley JFC in general we say good luck for the forthcoming season. 

It's Summer - Time for Wasps!

Wasps

The vast majority of people in the UK will be familiar with the wasp. Wasps are the bane of picnics, beer gardens, beaches and barbeques. In this country, the Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris) and the German Wasp (Vespula germanica) are armed with the most painful stings: these two species are the most annoying and the ones that you are most likely to find invading your commercial or domestic premises. Despite being adorned with distinctive yellow and black striped bodies, the wasp is frequently confused with the Hornet, which is not common in the UK. Hornets can of course still sting and cause pain. Other species of wasp are also considered to be pests but far less commonly found. Sadly, wasps are also frequently confused with bees. It is worth bearing in mind how the treatment for the removal of wasp nests differs from that of a bees nest.

At Key West Pest Control, we have tried our best to highlight the plight of the bee – they are endangered. A bee nest will only be removed if the attendant presence of bees poses a significant threat to people in close proximity. Key West would only remove a bee nest as a last resort. The range of treatments for a wasp nest are far more commonly employed: we can carry out such a treatment quickly and safely.

As has been mentioned, wasps are frequently confused with bees, and at Key West we would urge you to take note of the differences between them and those physical qualities that make wasps distinct. You will find that wasps have considerably less hair on their bodies than bees. Between the thorax and abdomen wasps have a tighter waist than that of bees. The wasp has distinctive bright yellow and black stripes around its body. A wasp’s body comprises three main parts: the head, thorax and abdomen. Only female wasps sting us, but unlike bees, they can do so repeatedly. Worker wasps vary in size from 12 -17mm

Wasp Nests

In the spring when a Queen wasp begins to build a nest its origins are diminutive, being the size of a golf ball. The nest grows in size rapidly roughly to the size of a basketball as summer approaches. During this period the number of wasps living in the nest increases, as you might expect. The nest itself is constructed from chewed wood pulp and saliva; the result is a papery consistency. Such nests are usually found in sheltered areas that are easily accessible from the exterior. Common wasp nest sites include sheds, garages, bird boxes, roof spaces, under eaves and wall cavities.

Prevention

The earlier a nest is given treatment, the better – as the summer progresses their number increases and they become more aggressive. If you suspect an infestation in your commercial or domestic premises you can locate the nest by being diligent and watching the flight path of wasps as they return to your buildings. Given that the number of wasps within a nest increases throughout the summer, such vigilance is more easily rewarded the further into the summer you are.

Prevention is always better than the cure in the case of a wasp nest and in pest control generally speaking. Certain measures can be taken to reduce the risk of a wasp problem. Altering habits in relation to the handling of food and drink can assist in the reduction of risk. Make sure that you check for nests. In the early spring, check in those place mentioned earlier – sheds, garages, under eaves, bird boxes, roof spaces, wall cavities – for the nest in its infancy: it will be around the size of a golf ball. The earlier, the better. Make sure that windows and doors are shut – it is a common misconception that during warm, or even hot, weather an open window will cool down your commercial or domestic premises. This just lets warm air into the building and increases the internal temperature. Make sure that your rubbish bins have tightly fitting lids, and keep the bins a good distance from doors and windows if you are able – wasps are often attracted to the contents of rubbish bins. If you have spotted and located a nest, keep children and domesticated animals away from the area.

While the detection of high numbers of wasps in your commercial or domestic premises may mean that a wasp nest is nearby, the removal of the nest might not be feasible. Nests found in confined, restricted and difficult-to-reach locations will be more difficult to treat. If the wasp nest is not located on your own property, your control over the situation is limited.

If you have a wasp problem, certain DIY products are available such as wasp repellents. Do NOT attempt to apply such treatments without the assistance of another person or even if you suspect that you are allergic to wasp stings and are likely to react with anaphylactic shock. If you are going to apply a repellent, make sure that you are wearing protective clothing – goggles, gloves, dust masks. Before you treat the nest wait until night time after scout wasps have made their final return journey to the nest. Always read very carefully the instructions written on the repellent container – you will learn not to stand directly below the nest, for example. Once the treatment has been applied – i.e. with a spray – leave the nest for a MINIMUM of 24 hours before even attempting careful removal of the nest – foraging wasps may take several days to return to the nest. As wasps do return and enter the nest they will be contaminated.

You can of course save yourself all of this hassle and risk by calling Key West Pest Control.

Even then, after having been professionally treated with insecticide a wasp nest should not be removed directly, because of the staggered return of foraging wasps. When the nest is totally dead it should be sealed in two thick plastic bags and disposed of in an external rubbish bin with a secure lid: tightly sealed. If the nest is in an inaccessible location and you cannot remove, not to worry, the insecticide will kill off the wasps and then will break down quickly leaving little residue. It is also worth bearing in mind that wasps will not return to a used nest in subsequent years. If you have any doubts about enacting any of this advice and require assurance or professional pest control, then call Key West.