Photo courtesy of Orkin Commercial Services Beeļ¬ng up pest control Audits can serve to improve overall operations By Dr. Zia Siddiqi meatpoultry@sosland.com T he prospect of an upcoming audit is the source of concern and angst for many processors. Most times, this stress can be avoided. Regardless of how well a previous audit went, one small infraction - like the presence of pests - can drastically change the overall score. Because pest control accounts for up to 20 percent of a plant's total audit score, it's important to develop a foolproof pestmanagement system. Audit preparation is less daunting if it becomes part of a plant's daily 84 I MEAT&POULTRY I April 2009 I "Because pest control accounts for up to 20 percent of a plant's total audit score, it's important to consider how to develop a foolproof pestmanagement system." www.MEATPOULTRY.com routine. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs couple pest prevention with regular sanitation, facility maintenance and detailed documentation. Educating employees about their role in the IPM process improves the opportunity to identify a pest problem early - before the external auditor does. Reputable pest-management companies will train workers to be on the lookout for pest signs and conditions that are conducive to infestations. Knowledgeable employees are valuable assets in helping keep pestshttp://www.MEATPOULTRY.com