Plant room pests: Cause for concern

Plant rooms may not necessarily be the first place that you consider when thinking of pest activity. But just because they are not particularly hospitable for humans, it doesn't necessarily mean that pests will give them a wide berth, as Richard Moseley, technical manager of BPCA (British Pest Control Association) explains

Consider what a pest typically needs to survive. Two of the key requirements are warmth and harbourage (a safe place to live that is relatively undisturbed). Think of a plant room in that context and then it starts to become a more attractive proposition. Place that room in an environment that offers a nearby food source, such as a production line in a food manufacturing plant, and we have a real viable living area for pests. Most plant rooms will also have moisture present, a key component for many key pest species.

But what about the noise and moving parts present in a plant room? Surely these will discourage pests? Well, possibly not. Pest species such as rodents are skilled adaptors. They will overcome obstacles such as noise if the prize of safety, warmth and food source can be obtained. The less human disturbance the better as far as species such as rats are concerned, so a plant room which may be secured to prevent human access is perfect. Remember, plant rooms with vents and louvres are often open to the intrusion of pests such as rodents. Mice are fantastic climbers and will have no problem gaining access to high level plant areas if the rewards are great enough.

If species such as rats and mice do become resident in plant areas, there are a number of risks to be considered.

Rodents can carry a number of potentially harmful diseases and pathogens that can be transmitted to humans. The common brown rat for example carries an infection known as Leptospirosis (Weils disease) in its urine. This can be transferred in damp conditions via cuts or the mouth and is incredibly difficult to diagnose. The sufferer displays flu-like symptoms, and could suffer organ failure or even in extreme cases death before the illness is diagnosed. If we accept plant areas may attract pests, we should be aware of the risks in such areas and ensure PPE is worn especially if there is evidence of pest activity, such as droppings or gnawing.

Rats and mice can also be incredibly destructive to plant and machinery if infestations go undiscovered and unchecked. This is due to rodents' habits of gnawing and chewing. Rodents' front incisor teeth grow constantly, and so must be worn down by gnawing on hard surfaces. Their incredibly strong teeth can chew through wire, cables, wood, cement and even brick. A chewing rodent among plant machinery can cause serious damage to equipment and hours of down time as faults are tracked down and repaired. Fire is a real risk if cables are damaged, and rodents can be electrocuted on wires and circuits that they have damaged. Damage can also be caused by rodents nesting amongst warm machinery if debris from the nest becomes entangled in moving parts.

Maintenance staff who enter plant rooms on a regular basis should also be aware that these locations are often just as attractive to a number of insect pests as they are to rodents. Potential disease spreaders such as cockroaches and flies will find many plant areas very suitable for them due to warm, moist conditions. Even pests such as mosquitoes may find a plant room a useful breeding site if standing water is present.

Again, when it is suspected that such insect pests are present, it is vital that staff wear appropriate PPE to prevent the transmission of pathogens and disease.

Often, the key to pest eradication is early detection. If you are aware of pest activity in plant rooms for which you have responsibility, don't ignore it. Inform the site and get a pest control professional to inspect and clear the pest problem. Pests like rats in a plant room will eventually cause serious damage to equipment and may impact on the health of staff, so ensure they are dealt with promptly and professionally before it is too late.