Current Edition >> Archive Section >> Special Features >> 16-30 June 2006
Leave it to the professionals
Like just about all other fields, the field of pest control has also become a highly specialized field. In particular the following are basic salient features of the field of pest control:
• The right solution should be applied to each pest problem or pesticide. Be it ants, rodents, crickets, scorpions, cockroaches or whatever, the right application is necessary.
• Pest control measures should be environmentally friendly and tolerant. This has become in modern day a critical issue.
• Relevant legislative stipulations should be adhered to in the application of all pest control measures. Knowing what the legal requirements and stipulations are, is of equal critical importance.
• Present day sound business practices require top standard pest control applications. For instance the requirements in respect of hospital, restaurant and butchery conditions, etc. are simply non-
negotiable in terms of first world standards.
• Pest control has become big business and there are a host of business types making a living and a ton out of pest control measures and applications. Therefore the industry needs to be strictly regulated in order to afford the necessary protection to the consumer and the environment.
Thus for the private residential occupant, the SMME as well as the corporate, when it comes to pest control, rather leave it to the professionals. Accordingly, in this special focus a number of suppliers in the pest control industry in the Free State region is being featured.
For more relevant info, contact the South African Pest Control Association in Centurion at 012 – 654 8038 or email info@sapca.org.za or visit www.sapca.org.za.
Food safety, ERP's and HACCP
The importance of food safety has necessitated a drastic increase in the standards of suppliers to food establishments, including retailers.
Accordingly pest control, hygiene and cleaning services form part of the client's Pre-Requisite Programme (PRP), which also greatly simplifies the implementation of a Hazard Analysis at Critical Control Point (HACCP) Programme where this is a requirement.
Good documentation enables effective management of a PRP. The latter is managed outside of HACCP and contributes to the simplification of the HACCP plan and enables the HACCP plan to focus on the critical determinacy of safety specific to the process under review.
PRP and HACCP are tools whereby management can determine compliance with: Customer codes of practice / SABS 049 / Dept. of Health regulation R918 / Other relevant documents such as industry guides.
Food safety is not negotiable and is not to be circumvented for lower cost or higher productivity.
The field of cleaning services has likewise become a highly specialized industry. Specific criteria and requirements for a wide variety of businesses and government institutions apply and it is often only professional suppliers that are able to meet these.
Accordingly not only in South Africa but also internationally provision is made for acknowledgement of service excellence by cleaning suppliers in four categories, namely health care, hospitality, educational and offices. In each of these categories, companies are grouped as either large (500 employees and more), medium (50-499 employees) and small (less than 50 employees). An independent panel of judges evaluates entries, including site visits to inspect sites and interview customers of cleaning firms.
This is just an indication of how high hygienic and aesthetic standards are being set in the cleaning industry.
In this feature a number of cleaning suppliers in Bloemfontein and wider surroundings present themselves for readers to take them up on what they are offering.
At the crossroads
In both the fields of pest control and cleaning services conditions in South Africa and also the Free State have come to the crossroads inasmuch as the daunting challenge faced is whether first world standards are still being complied with. Unfortunately large parts of Africa are notorious for appalling conditions in respect of hygiene, food, medical services, conditions of public premises, etc.
The challenge is twofold: On the one hand, care should be taken that new legislation does not lower standards, such as entry requirements for certain key positions in the industry, like inspectors, etc. On the other hand, is the question of law enforcement – sufficient and competent staff to see that legal requirements are being met in the industry.
How does the most important party in the debate – the public – feel about this? What are your views on standards of pest control, cleanliness and hygiene in the Free State / central SA? Contact us and tell us or lcast your vote on our Readers' Poll on whether it is excellent, satisfactory or bad.
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