Pest control is an issue that can affect any industry or business, and this goes double for warehouses and storage facilities. Even if you don’t work in the food storage industry, pests such as rodents, insects, and more can damage products like sensitive electronics and consumer goods if left unchecked.

You don’t need a big expensive pest control plan to keep these critters in check, though. With some careful warehouse design and a vigilant eye, you can protect your products from pest and rodent damage and better ensure the overall security of your warehouse. Here’s a few tips to get started:

Watch for Potential Entry Points: An easy and effective place to start a warehouse pest control process is to check for anything pests can use to get into your warehouse. Check your windows, doors, screens, and vents for any kind of loose joints or openings that can allow animals or insects to sneak into your warehouse and seal or repair them immediately. Securing your loading dock can help with this as well – as a commonly used point of entry into the warehouse, the constantly opening and closing doors are going to be a constant source of potential pest entry.

Secure Your Storage: This step is two-fold: you need to use storage that will be unappealing and inaccessible to pests, and you need to make sure your items are stored as safely and correctly as possible. Wire shelving, especially anything approved by the NSF for sanitary needs, is a good way to repel germs and insects (as they won’t be as attracted by the sterile metal surface) for storing food or delicate items. To repel bigger pests like rodents, you might want to consider using shelving enclosures to limit access to each shelf and keep your items contained more safely. For bigger items that are still at risk of pest infestation (such as anything stored in cardboard boxes), you might want to consider taller, more durable industrial shelving to protect your sensitive goods and keep them up off the floor, which is a common spot for pest infestation.

Focus On Sanitation: Keeping a warehouse sanitary doesn’t have to involve expensive cleaning projects or calling in help from a cleaning professional. By implementing sanitation practices among your employees you can get ahead of the problem before it worsens and invites unwelcome guests. Impress on your employees the importance of cleaning up their work areas and break room, and for needs like food storage it’s absolutely vital that all applicable federal and local food-handling laws are followed to protect your products, your workers, and your customers.

Constant Monitoring: Finally, the best way to control pests in your warehouse is to stay proactive. After completing all the other steps, make a list of your most vulnerable areas and make sure to continue watching those for potential trouble spots. Watch your inventory, your loading areas, and even your employee rooms carefully to ensure nothing can start nesting or chewing on anything, and if you have the time you should consider creating a policy to review sanitation procedures and make sure your entire workforce is proactive in their efforts.