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.