Pest Control policy

This policy outlines Pest Control management procedures and what steps must be taken to prevent pest infestations.

Hatching Dragons ensures that our environments are of the highest standards and meet all regulatory requirements. This includes pest management and periodical spot checks of our facilities.

At each of our schools the managers and other staff will take active reporting duty and inform the manager/area manager and facilities management teams if they suspect the premisses to be infested by pest.

Each site must hold Pest Control contract with reputable agencies. The Manager will be responsible for monitoring the performance of the Pest Control Contractor to ensure that the contract specifications and standards are being met and that the nursery is receiving an effective service.

The manager will:

Secure the specification for pest control services as per the contract.
Ensure that the contractual arrangements deliver high standards of pest control
Communicate any pest traces/suspected infestations to the contractors and arrange for their services more frequently if needed
Ensure pest control monitoring activities take place at least once a month
Receive investigate and initiate appropriate action on all reports of the evidence of pests or sightings of pests.
Assess the contractors written reports and to action taken to combat pest infestation since the contractors last report.
An assessment on the current situation, including any works required to be done to eliminate harbourage and improve hygiene.
Any proposals for further action by the contractor.
Ensure effective safety measures are taken to prevent anti pest devices/traps or compounds causing harm to anyone. They must be out of reach and sight of the children at all times.
Pest control services must be called out immediately to investigate the matters where concerns of pest infestations were raised.
Where suspected that a persons and their belonging might be contaminated with nits, fleas, bugs exclusion policy should apply until the matter is resolved.
The manager should inform families about possible pest contaminations.
All soft toys, linen and wherever possible other equipment must be hot washed (at or above 60 degrees) for at least 1 hour cycle.

The contractor will:

Carry out pro-active work to monitor for evidence of pests and take corrective actions as necessary in order to keep the premises free from pests. The contractor will undertake periodic visits at least once a month and more frequently where and if necessary. The visits must take place out of operating hours (7.30am to 6.30pm) unless requested otherwise. In such circumstances, the manager shall advise the Contractor accordingly. All pesticides used by the pest control contractor will be approved in accordance with the Control of Pesticides Regulations (COPR) 1986 (as amended 1997), be strictly controlled and monitored and fully comply with the requirements of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002.

Basic pest control measures :

Food should be covered or stored in pest proof containers.
Spillages should be promptly removed.
Waste should be stored in a manner suitable to prevent access by pests.
Accumulation of static/ stagnant water should be avoided.
Buildings should be of sound structure and well maintained, drains should be covered, and leaking pipe works repaired and damaged surfaces made good. Defects should be reported to the area manager. Appropriate works must be arranged.
Cracks in plaster and woodwork, unsealed areas around pipe work, damaged tiles, badly fitted equipment and kitchen units as well as classroom units are all likely to provide excellent harbourage and should be maintained in a suitable condition. The units wherever possible must be moved about for the housekeeper to undertake deep cleaning activities once a week.
Where fitted, fly screens should always be closed when windows are open.
Doors to food preparation areas should be kept closed.
Whenever treatment with insecticides and rodenticides alone is seldom sufficient; attention must be paid to good hygiene and structural maintenance.
Children's beds folded inside with linen changed/washed twice a week in a hot wash cycle.

The staff and team members must ensure that monitoring compliance is met at all times. All staff should note that non-compliance with this policy or protocols could lead to disciplinary actions being taken. All Managers have a responsibility to monitor compliance of the policy. Local instances of non-compliance, whether due to poor working practice or lack of resources, should be notified to the senior management whose responsibility it will be to investigate it.