Discovering a rat in your storeroom can be alarming, and problematic for your business. Rats pose serious health and safety risks, especially in commercial settings where food, consumables, or other sensitive stock may be stored. They can contaminate products, damage property, and undermine your business’s reputation and legal compliance. So what should you do if you discover a rat in the storeroom? And how can you resolve this issue?
So what should you do if you discover a rat in the storeroom?
There are a number of things you should do if you discover a rat in your workplace. These include:
- Contacting a professional pest control company
The first thing you should do is to contact a qualified, reliable pest control company that has experience in commercial rodent control, like us here at Wipeout UK. The company you choose should be members of the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) or the National Pest Technicians Association (NPTA). These organisations set high standards for training and safety compliance.
By contacting a professional team like ours, you can be sure that a full survey will be carried out. This will identify signs of infestation, and identify any implementations that would be appropriate. These implementations will be carried out rapidly and with full professionalism, to get your business back up and running as soon as possible.
It is essential that you do not attempt to tackle the problem yourself as this can lead to incomplete eradication and ongoing risks. Instead, you should document all actions taken, as this is especially important in industries regulated by environmental health, trading standards, or food safety authorities.
Isolate contaminated stock
A professional pest control company will not only resolve the pest problem, they will also help to secure the premises, and point out areas of access. However, if you’ve just discovered a rat, and are waiting for the company to arrive, you can start to remove and isolate any affected stock immediately. Food items or consumables that show signs of contact, such as droppings or teeth marks, should be safely disposed of according to your waste management policies and local regulations. Contaminated products should not be sold or repackaged.
In the UK, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) requires strict hygiene practices, and knowingly selling or distributing contaminated stock could lead to prosecution and fines. Keep records of disposed stock, including photographic evidence if possible.
Identify and seal entry points
Rats can enter through surprisingly small gaps (as little as 15mm). After the initial survey, your pest control contractor will help identify potential entry points including gaps around doors, utility lines, drains, and structural defects. You should be sure to repair or seal these areas as soon as possible using rodent-proof materials such as steel mesh, concrete, or metal flashing. You should pay special attention to:
- Doors and loading bays – fit rubber or metal kick strips.
- Gaps around pipework and cables.
- Damaged air bricks or ventilation grilles.
Choose Wipeout for your pest control
Finding a rat in your store room should be treated as a serious incident. Immediate action that includes contacting a reputable pest control company like us, isolating contaminated stock, and identifying entry points, is crucial. For professional pest control, you can count on us here at Wipeout UK. We are the number one choice for pest control in Preston and we offer a wide range of services. Why not get in touch to find out more?