How to Avoid Poor Documentation

In food safety, the margin for error is wafer-thin. And with the number of factors—both internal and external—that can ultimately make or break your success, it can be difficult to stay on top of things.

But pest control is not something you should let slip through the cracks. From failed audits to potential contamination, the damage done by a pest infestation can be detrimental to your business.

That’s why Orkin and NSF International have teamed up to compile a series of free tips to help you ace your next third-party audits and stay protected against pests and the threats they pose.

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the tips you can expect related to documenting your pest control efforts:

• General Documentation – After an initial contract and written IPM program are signed, it’s important to update the documents if any changes in service or materials occur. These are dynamic documents that should evolve over time as you continue improving the IPM program.

• Pest Management Credentials and Competencies – Be sure that some kind of proof of training is on file to verify that a service provider understands the proper and safe use of pest management materials.

• Pesticide Documentation – Extensive documentation of pesticide use is required at all times, and each facility must keep a list of approved pesticides.

• Pest Management Activity Documentation – Auditors want to see documentation of pest sightings, pest activity and specific corrective actions taken.

• Monitoring Device Documentation – Be sure the site map is up-to-date and includes any new devices or altered device placements. These must be reviewed regularly, dated and signed or initialed by the designated individual.

And those are just some of the tips we offer related to pest control documentation. While there’s more to a perfect audit than just documentation, we can’t understate how crucial it is to audit compliance. Be sure to check back here for more third-party audit tips over the next few months.