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Cockroach control for distribution facilities

Cockroach control for distribution facilities

No matter if it’s summer or winter, cockroaches are tough pests that are capable of surviving in any environment. With distribution facilities providing plenty of shelter, food and water, they provide ideal conditions for pesky cockroaches to spread germs and cause damage. Avoid a cockroach outbreak at your distribution facility with our tips in this Hivemind article.

What questions will this article answer?

Why are cockroaches attracted to distribution facilities?

Cockroaches are tough insects capable of thriving in a range of different conditions. They will look for shelter, warmth, food, water and quiet hiding spots to nest and breed all year round. With distribution facilities providing all these resources, it’s not hard to see why your facility could fall victim to a potential outbreak.

As the cockroach peak breeding season is summer, they’re often on the prowl for quiet hiding spots to lay eggs in the warmer months. However, cockroaches are just as likely to use the same places to hibernate in winter.

With a wide-ranging diet that consists of many organic and inorganic materials that are found in distribution facilities, they have easy access to food sources. These include paper, leather, fabric, cardboard, grease and starch found in packaging and transport products and of course, stock.

If your facility has wet areas or a high moisture environment, this can also entice cockroaches, which can often be found living in drains.

Common cockroach species

While cockroaches have wings, some species are not often airborne. This can have an impact on how we manage outbreaks. Here’s how to identify the most frequently sighted types of cockroaches in Australia:

American cockroach

They are reddish brown in colour and 35 to 40mm long.

German cockroach

Brown to dark brown coloured and 1 to -16mm long, they have 2 dark stripes along thorax. While they have wings, they rarely fly.

Australian cockroach

Ranging from 23 to 35mm long, they are brown coloured with pale stripes on their head.

Oriental cockroach

They tend to be dark brown to black coloured and 22 to 27mm long.

Problems caused by cockroaches

A notorious pest in industrial facilities, cockroaches can be found in many different places and cause disruption to your workplace. Here’s how:

Contaminate food and surfaces

Due to their unhygienic foraging habits, cockroaches collect germs and spread them along their travels.

Spread diseases

Your workplace could be at risk of illnesses such as gastroenteritis, salmonella, dysentery, typhoid fever, cholera, hepatitis A and leprosy.

Penalties for non-compliance to industrial health and safety standards

Breaching regulations can result in hefty financial penalties and affect your ability to trade as a business.

Damage to business reputation and operations

Clients, customers, employees and contractors will be deterred from attending your facility if there is a known cockroach outbreak.

Damage packaging, belongings, furniture, stock and furniture

Cockroaches have sharp teeth and strong jaws, which can chew through a wide range of materials found in distribution facilities, including grease, starch, plastic, leather goods, clothing, furniture and paper and cardboard.

Trigger allergies

With a known allergen called tropomyosin found in their droppings, and sometimes even parasitic worms, cockroaches can trigger asthma and eczema in employees and customers.

They are messy

Cockroaches leaving their droppings, eggs, moulted skins all around the workplace. This can make the floor slippery and unsafe. Their droppings also contain pheromones to attract more cockroaches to the area and make outbreaks even worse.

Manage cockroaches fast, speak to an expert today.

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Signs of a cockroach outbreak

Look out for the following clues to know if you have a cockroach infestation on your hands:

You see live cockroaches

Typically nocturnal pests, if you see cockroaches in the daytime, this means that there’s a good chance that there are many more hidden away.

Droppings

Similar in appearance to coffee grounds, cockroach droppings are black, variable in length and less than 1mm wide.

Egg capsules

Cockroaches laying eggs means that it won’t be long before the population multiplies. Eggs can look different depending on the species of cockroach.

Moulted skins

Throughout their life cycle, cockroaches shed their outer layer as they grow in size. So, if you see skin shedding fragments around, this means that there could well be an outbreak.

Unpleasant odour

Cockroach droppings give off a musty odour that intensifies as the infestation worsens.

How to prevent cockroaches in distribution facilities

When it comes to outbreaks, cockroach prevention is far better than cure. We recommend the considering the following tips as part of your pest management plan:

Regular building maintenance

Building inspections are helpful to identify all possible entry points. By sealing them off, you can stop cockroaches from squeezing through very small gaps.

Check and repair all leaking pipes, faucets and drains as moisture attracts cockroaches.

Regularly clean and sanitise

For food preparation surfaces and food storage areas, good hygiene practices are key.

Remove all spilled food items and wipe down food preparation areas thoroughly. Consider disinfection as well.

Don’t forget to clean less frequently used areas and other potential hiding spots for cockroaches, including behind or underneath shelving and pallets.

Keep all food tightly sealed and properly stored away

Check that lids are secured tightly and all food packaging is intact.

Ensure all waste is properly disposed of

Make sure that lids are properly fitting and rubbish is tightly sealed off in bags.

Don’t delay cockroach treatment, get expert advice today

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Professional Cockroach Control

All our pest control technicians are certified and compliant with Australian standards, including Food Safety Standard HACCP and Quality Standard ISO 9001. We use the following methods to control a cockroach outbreak:

Cockroach bait

Baits contain insecticide in a solid, liquid or gel form. They are strategically placed close to established nesting areas and feeding sites.

Insecticide Spray

Applied to the perimeters of the affected building, an insecticide spray acts as a deterrent for cockroaches to enter the building from outside.

Cockroach control dust

For hard to reach places, especially small spaces such as cracks and crevices, which are popular hiding spots for cockroaches, we sprinkle insecticide granules.

Fumigation

Usually used alongside other methods, this is effective for more serious infestations in a confined space. We’ll seal off the area before applying the treatment.

Heat treatment

This is a chemical free and the most environmentally friendly method for cockroach prevention. Dry heat of between 50-60 degrees Celsius is delivered using a mobile system to prevente cockroaches at any stage of their life cycle.

Integrated pest management for distribution facilities

For over 35 years, we have partnered with many businesses to prevent all unwanted pest outbreaks. Our Integrated Pest Management System plays an important role in keeping staff, clients, customers and workplaces safe all across Adelaide.

With a dedicated pest control technician assigned to your facility, to perform an initial inspection, we will thoroughly check for any risks, current pest control measures and learn how your business operates. This information will help us to come up with a personalised Pest Management program for your facility.

Using our 24/7 online portal you’ll be able to access, manage and update your Pest Management Program. This includes all compliance documentation, your pest management strategy and inspection reports. You’ll be able to report any new concerns immediately. Our tailored approach makes it easy for you to alert your assigned pest control technician to any new issues and receive accurate advice as quickly as possible.

For up-to-date pest control technology at your fingertips, contact Allstate today.

Choose Allstate for safe and effective cockroach management

At Allstate, we understand how devastating cockroach outbreaks can be in large, busy distribution facilities. We have the experience to help you come up with an effective pest management program to protect your business from cockroaches, allowing you to redirect your time and energy into other important matters.

Since 1986, we have helped businesses in all suburbs of Adelaide with pest control services. Whether you have a small or large facility, our technicians are equipped with the latest in pest control technology to keep all pests out. Available 24/7 for urgent enquiries, we also offer flexible appointment times to minimise disruption to your day to day operations.

Our treatments are non-toxic to people and the environment, and covered by competitive warranties.

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Your Guide to Cockroach control in Adelaide

Your Guide to Cockroach control in Adelaide

YOUR GUIDE TO COCKROACH CONTROL IN ADELAIDE

 

Cockroaches are good scavengers that thrive in clean dwellings just as well as they do in unsanitary environments. They carry some pretty filthy germs with them that cause everything from cholera to asthma.

The other problem? They are stealthy pests who rapidly multiply before you even know they are there. So for every rogue cockroach you see, there are probably at least ten more that you can’t.

What questions will this article answer?

Why a cockroach outbreak is a problem

For centuries, cockroach outbreaks have been feared for several reasons:

They damage to packaging, belongings and furniture

Cockroaches have sharp teeth and strong jaws that are capable of chewing through a wide range of organic and inorganic materials, including plastic. Look for unusual signs of damage in unexpected places, not just on food packaging. This can include leather goods, clothing, furniture and books.

They continue to attract more cockroaches

Cockroach droppings can emit a pheromone to entice more cockroaches to the same area. To make matters worse, when droppings continually accumulate at their nesting site or aggregation point, a small issue can quickly turn into a big outbreak.

They trigger allergies

A runny nose, itchy eyes or throat, or persistent cough, can be symptoms of a cockroach allergy. These arise after being around their droppings, saliva or shed skin. Sometimes, the droppings also contain various allergy triggers, including parasitic worm eggs.

They spread disease

Due to their unhygienic feeding and nesting habits, cockroaches can accumulate a range of highly infectious bacteria, parasites and viruses, which they leave behind on food, objects and surfaces where they feed, nest and crawl, resulting in contamination. Once you come into contact with something that is contaminated, you are at risk of being infected and falling ill. Some diseases spread by cockroaches include:

  • Diarrhoea
  • Gastroenteritis or food poisoning: caused by salmonella, campylobacteria, listeria, e. coli
  • Typhoid fever
  • Cholera
  • Dysentery
  • Leprosy
  • Hepatitis A

At Allstate, our cockroach control technicians are well aware of the health risks posed by cockroaches, and the urgency of preventing a cockroach infestation. That’s why our team is available 24/7 tin every suburb of Adelaide. For competitively priced, effective treatments and advice, call 8371 1277.

Speak to an experienced cockroach technician today about cockroach removal

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How cockroaches spread disease

Cockroaches are not shy about sharing your space, and the germs that they collected from scavenging in unclean places. The most common way that we get sick from cockroaches is through contaminated food and drink. Here’s how contamination typically occurs:

Coming into contact with droppings and saliva
Cockroaches will generally eat anything that is available. This means that they will happily feed on rotten food and waste laden with bacteria, parasites and viruses. These disease-causing organisms will pass through the cockroach digestive system unscathed, accumulate in droppings and saliva, and continue to remain highly infectious, even when they are left out in the open.

Mechanical transfer
Cockroaches will happily live in unhygienic and unsanitary places including rubbish bins and sewers, which are brimming with many harmful organisms. Some of these organisms will latch onto the cockroach’s body (such as the spines on their legs), and are moved to different surfaces and objects as the cockroach roams around.

Most common types of cockroach pests in Australia

Identifying the species of cockroach causing an infestation can make it easier to treat the problem by understanding their habits and behaviour. Here are the most common types found in Australian homes and businesses:

American cockroach

  • 35-40mm long and have a glossy reddish brown colour
  • Capable of running and using their wings to fly at high temperatures
  • Live in trees surrounding your property
  • Favour humid climates and also darker, less frequented areas in buildings, including roof cavities, basements, subfloors, kitchens and bathrooms

German cockroach

  • Grow to 12-15mm long, easily identified by 2 dark stripes along their head
  • Skilled at climbing
  • Live indoors, in warmer, humid climates with moisture, usually found in wet areas such as the bathroom, laundry and kitchen

Australian cockroach

  • 23-35cm long, with pale stripes on their wing and near the head
  • Prefer living in areas with mild winters
  • Hide in gardens and debris
  • Enter buildings at night

What are the signs of a cockroach infestation?

Here are some tips on what to look out for to correctly identify a cockroach outbreak in Adelaide.

Droppings

Look similar to coffee grounds – they are thin (<1mm wide), black in colour, and vary in length

Smear marks

Take note of brown irregular shaped smear marks near a water source or along pathways where they crawl, including floors, surfaces and wall-floor junctions

Unpleasant oily, musty odour

Comes from droppings, and intensifies along with the infestation

Egg capsules (ootheca)

Can look different for each species, with some being segmented and others having raised round sections

Skin shedding

As cockroaches mature and become larger, they outgrow their outer layer and are known to shed this 5-8 times in their life cycle. This will usually look thin and semi-transparent

Live cockroaches

Cockroaches are nocturnal, so you are more likely to see them actively moving around at night. If you see them during the daytime, you may have a serious problem on your hands

Speak to an experienced cockroach technician today about cockroach removal

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Cockroaches in your business: restaurants, commercial buildings, distribution facilities and warehouses

Cockroaches are naturally attracted to places that provide good shelter and nesting sites, as well as an abundance of food sources. If left unchecked, an outbreak affects cleanliness and hygiene, creates an unpleasant odour, and spreads disease. This will eventually lead to staff, contractors and customers falling sick and being reluctant to return, a loss of stock and trade, and damage your reputation. To top it off, in Adelaide you can also cop heavy penalties for breaching food and industrial health and safety standards.

Restaurants
An abundance of fresh food makes restaurants vulnerable to a cockroach outbreak, and the results can be disastrous. A cockroach sighting can ruin your reputation overnight and subject you to fines for breaching food safety laws. If left unchecked, a colony can quickly spread diseases over chairs, tables, crockery and equipment, and cost you dearly in damaged stock. To prevent an outbreak, all restaurants must practice proper storage of food supplies, stock and rubbish, and implement regular pest control to meet regulatory requirements.

How to control cockroaches in restaurants

Commercial buildings
A cockroach problem for one tenant can potentially become an issue for all tenants in the building, so it’s important for everyone to follow the same strict health and safety practices. You may even experience disruptions to trade while the outbreak is being treated.

How to control cockroaches in commercial buildings and offices

Distribution facilities and warehouses
The sight of cockroaches scurrying around is not just distracting and off-putting to workers. Cockroach germs can contaminate stock and machinery,, and make you liable for not meeting WH&S obligations. Cockroaches may even be transported to other locations by latching onto products loaded for transport.

How to control cockroaches in distribution facilities and warehouses

How to prevent a cockroach outbreak

The best way to stop a cockroach outbreak in Adelaide is to prevent them from entering your home or business in the first place.. Here are a few tips to get you started:

Practice good hand hygiene
Avoid touching your face and eyes and use plenty of soap and warm water to wash your hands:

  • Before, during and after food handling and preparation
  • Before and after eating
  • After using the restroom and handling rubbish
  • After coming into contact with foreign surfaces, objects and materials which could be contaminated

Keep your space clean and sanitary

  • Remove and seal off potential food sources
  • Remove dropped/spilled food, wipe grease from stove and oven, and dispose pet droppings.
  • Clean floors, wipe benches, countertops and tables, clear sinks and drains,
  • Clean the dishwasher and oven
  • Wash cutlery, utensils, crockery before and after use
  • Ensure containers have tight fitting lids
  • Keep equipment and containers off the floor
  • Ensure that rubbish is covered
  • Regularly check and clean cupboards and shelves inside and underneath
  • Disinfect surfaces regularly

Conduct regular building maintenance

  • Regularly inspect and repair entry points of your building, damaged drains and pipes
  • Seal entry points, cracks and crevices with expanding foam or filler
  • Check pipes for leaks, as cockroaches like damp places

How to control a cockroach outbreak

There are several ways to manage a cockroach infestation, and using more than one give you the best chance of success. Here are some common methods used in Adelaide:

Cockroach bait
This is effective for use indoors, and comes in liquid, gel and solid form. Baits are strategically placed close to nesting areas and the poison is transferred from an affected cockroach to the rest of the colony.

Fumigation
This method is effective for more serious infestations in a confined space, and best used alongside other methods. A gas containing insecticide chemicals is introduced to a building that has been sealed off.

Heat treatment
This method is the most environmentally friendly and chemical free, and can prevente cockroaches at any stage of their life cycle. A mobile system delivers dry heat of 50-60 degrees to an area for a monitored period.

Speak to an experienced cockroach technician today about cockroach removal

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Professional cockroach control

If you live in a cockroach-prone area, have a serious outbreak, or run a business, it’s best to steer clear of DIY methods and use professional cockroach extermination.

Instead of battling with the same problem for weeks on end, professional control is a cost-effective way to manage cockroaches and remove the source of the outbreak, so you won’t have to worry about a re-infestation.

Here is Allstate’s process for helping you to gain the upper hand against a cockroach infestation:

Initial assessment
Our cockroach removal technicians will thoroughly inspect your home or business, and devise the best solution to address the outbreak.

Removing the cockroach outbreak
Our solution usually involves applying one or more of the following non-hazardous methods, which are all child- friendly, pet-friendly, and safe for the environment:

  • Cockroach control dust: sprinkled into voids, weep-holes, cracks and crevices located in the area of the outbreak. You may notice an initial increase in the amount of cockroaches immediately after
  • Cockroach insecticide: carefully applied to specific treated zones at the perimeters of the building
  • Gel baits: positioned at popular feeding sites
  • Insecticide aerosol spray: applied to nesting areas

We’ll keep you informed
After we’re finished, we’ll send a report to you explaining the steps we took to control the outbreak, and, if necessary, leave you instructions about how to make sure the treatment works at full effectiveness. We’ll also outline some recommendations that can prevent future issues, making it simple for you to refer back to later.

Why choose Allstate pest control?

A cockroach infestation can be just as frustrating as it is unhealthy – causing stress and interruptions at home, and some serious headaches at a commercial premises.

At Allstate Pest Control Adelaide, we understand this and make sure you won’t have to put up with it for long.

24/7 emergency cockroach control
Allstate’s team of experienced cockroach exterminators are available 24/7 to all suburbs of Adelaide, to quickly deal with any cockroach outbreaks and problems.

Guaranteed to work
Our highly effective treatments focus on the areas that they live and breed to make sure your protection lasts, with a 100% money back guarantee.

Safe and affordable
On a tight budget? We offer affordable, interest-free payment plans to help you to implement cockroach control solutions when you need them. You also don’t need to worry about hazardous chemicals – our treatments are safe for children, pets and the environment.

Routine programs for businesses
Our Routine Pest Prevention Programs gives businesses a cost-effective method to meet their health and safety requirements. We work around your operating hours to cause the least disruption possible. You will also get your own online reporting portal, which enables you to access your records, reports and trends at any time.

Manage cockroaches fast. Our Adelaide team is ready to help you now

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