A 60-Second Guide to Acing Your Audit

When it comes to third-party audits in the food processing industry, there’s no room for error with your pest control program. That’s why it’s important to constantly work toward helping keep your facility pest-free.

Audit-ready pest control at your facility starts with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan that can help protect your staff, customers and ultimately your business by uncovering and remediating any pest-related issues before they take hold. To help ensure your facility is protected from pests, read our quick, 5-step reference guide to put you on the path to acing your next audit.

1. Written IPM Program. Having a signed contract between you and your pest control provider will no longer suffice. Auditors want to see a detailed IPM program and risk assessment plan that include everything from the scope of service to the defined roles and responsibilities you and your pest management provider share. 

2. Documentation. Proper documentation helps prove your facility is compliant with audit requirements. Your records should be detailed and current on program activity from general service contracts and liability insurance to pest sighting logs, monitoring devices and service reports.

3. Modification. Observe pest activity monthly and work closely with your pest management professional during each visit to make improvements to your IPM plan as necessary.

4. Pest Trend Analysis. Tracking pest trends and analyzing the data will help you find the root of your pest problems. Be sure to keep corresponding documentation of corrective actions taken in response to pest activity to show your program is incorporating learnings.

5. Annual Facility Assessment. Perform annual assessments that test the effectiveness of your IPM plan in helping combat your pest problems. Review all documentation with your pest control provider and conduct a physical inspection of your facility.

Your best bet to acing your next audit is being knowledgeable about critical pest management requirements. Looking for more? Stay ahead with these steps on how to prepare for your next audit to set your facility up for success.

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