Meat + Poultry - August 2007 - 103

* ADVERT OR IAL

Expel Pests and Get an A+ On Your Audit
By Zia Siddiqi, Ph.D., B.C.E., Director of Quality Systems, Orkin, Inc.
Auditors recognize that a good pest
control program is vital in ensuring
food safety. On some audits, pest
control can even account for as much
as 20 percent of a facility's total score.
Since pests can carry pathogens that
can cause foodborne illnesses, even
evidence of one pest raises a red ﬂag
to an auditor.

keeps copies of the logbook at each
client's local Orkin ofﬁce.

Take a 1-2-3 approach for audit
success:
1. Write it down
Keep your documentation up-todate. The fact is, plants with detailed,
accurate records routinely score higher
on inspections than those without.
Auditors will review your pest control
documentation, including copies of
service reports, pesticide usage logs,
material safety data sheets (MSDS),
product labels and an updated ﬂoor
plan noting all pest control devices.
Maintain all documents in a central
location and keep a back up. As
part of Orkin's Gold Medal Protection
program, a custom-designed sevenstep system for food processors,
all clients receive a documentation
logbook to house on site. Orkin also

2. Talk it out
Meet regularly with your pest control
provider to review your program and
give an update on any changes to your
facility that could impact pest presence.
An effective pest management program
will be constantly evolving. As part
of Orkin's Gold Medal Protection,
clients meet quarterly with their
local Orkin Managers to update
their pest management efforts, and
one of Orkin's Quality Assurance
professionals conducts an annual
audit to assess the program.
3. Use your resources
Facilities with the most successful
audits involve their employees in the
pest management program. Ask your

'4 *

provider to educate your employees
on the roles they play in sanitation
and maintenance efforts that can
help prevent pests. As the eyes and
ears of the program, your employees
can help spot the signs of an
infestation before it's too late.

Don't let pest control be an
afterthought when it comes
time for your audit. To help
prepare your facility, download
Orkin's free pre-audit checklist
at Orkin University Online, a set
of free learning tools at www.
orkincommercial.com under the
"About Orkin" tab. Orkin University
Online also offers 5 Steps to a
Better Audit, a training video that
offers tips to help improve your
next food safety audit score. With
preparation, an A+ score could be
right around the corner.
Dr. Zia Siddiqi is Director of
Quality Systems for Orkin, Inc.
A board-certiﬁed entomologist
with more than 30 years in
the industry, Dr. Siddiqi is an
acknowledged leader in the ﬁeld
of pest management. For more
information, email zsiddiqi@rollins.
com. Visit www.orkincommercial.
com or call 1-800-ORKIN-NOW to
request a free consultation.

ORKIN
COMMERCIAL SERVICES
1-800-ORKIN-NOW * www.orkincommercial.com
84

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Meat + Poultry - August 2007

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