As temperatures rise and the weather becomes warmer, pest activity naturally increases. Bushes thicken, litter begins to gather unnoticed in corners and shrubs, and with warmer days, people are outdoors more – often leaving food waste or rubbish behind. It’s these small shifts in the environment that create the ideal conditions for rodents, flies, and other pests to thrive. In fact, data from the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) shows pest activity typically increases by up to 30% during the warmer months. Warmer weather also signals the start of breeding season for many pests, meaning you’re not just dealing with increased activity, but the risk of young pests establishing themselves nearby – making infestations faster and harder to control if left unchecked.
While pest control is a year-round responsibility, the warmer months mark a peak period when pest activity surges. It’s a time when businesses need to stay especially vigilant – not just in terms of reacting to issues but preventing them altogether.
Understanding Pest Control: More Than Just Getting Rid of Pests
Pest control isn’t only about traps and treatments. It’s about creating a safe, clean environment through awareness, good practice, and quick escalation when issues arise. It’s day-by-day, area-by-area vigilance.
Certain areas in the UK experience significantly higher levels of pest activity, and the issue can often be highly localised – sometimes varying from one street to the next. This is influenced by factors such as dense population, ongoing construction, proximity to canals or rivers, and ageing infrastructure.
Whether you’re managing a cafe, restaurant, supermarket, warehouse or office site, failing to take proactive steps could impact your brand integrity, cause operational disruption, or result in damage to buildings and equipment. In some cases, it can even lead to enforcement action.
Prevention First: How to Avoid Problems Before They Start
One of the most effective ways to prevent pests is by focusing on the basics – site hygiene, building repair, and ongoing monitoring. This monitoring should carry-on throughout every part of your operation, both inside and outside.
These checks should be recorded, reviewed, and audited regularly. Doing so helps identify recurring issues early, prevents infestations from taking hold, and forms part of your due diligence process. But beyond logging activity, it’s about ensuring that critical actions are being completed day in, day out.
We spoke to pest control experts at City Facility Management and their advice on the key areas to focus are as follows: –
- Ensuring external and internal doors are kept closed when not in use – especially those leading to kitchens, storage areas, or delivery areas. Where ventilation is needed, installing mesh screens or pest-proof fly screens can allow air to circulate without compromising pest control.
- Checking that bins are properly sealed, not overflowing, and cleaned to prevent attracting rodents or flies.
- Monitoring the condition of doors, walls and pipework, making sure there are no gaps, cracks, or entry points.
- Keeping outdoor areas free from litter, particularly where bushes and vegetation can trap waste or provide cover for pests.
- Making sure that stock is stored off the floor, in sealed containers, and away from walls to allow for easy cleaning and inspection.
- Checking that there are no areas where water is pooling and providing an ideal source for pests to drink.
All of this should be checked regularly and logged as part of your pest management routine. If these tasks aren’t being done – you risk losing sight of emerging issues and having no proof of control measures when it matters most.
Spotting the Early Signs: What You Need to Know
Even with good practices in place, pests can still get in. The important thing is knowing how to identify the signs and act quickly.
Early signs can include:
- Small droppings or dark smear marks near walls
- Gnawed packaging, wiring or wooden structures
- Unpleasant or unusual smells
- Staff hearing noises in walls, ceilings or storage areas
- Clustering insects around bins, especially in warmer months
This is where staff awareness and communication are essential. Everyone should know how to report pest sightings or signs – whether that’s through your internal reporting system or via the Shield Safety Service Advice Line. Escalation routes should be clear, and the right people must be notified quickly so the issue can be assessed and contained.
Escalating the Issue: Acting Fast When Problems Arise
A key reason pest problems spiral is because action isn’t taken quickly enough – or not at all. Once reported, ensure that action plans are put in place locally with management teams, staff and pest contractors to eradicate the pest activity as quickly as possible.
Alongside this, management should review what went wrong: was the issue caused by a missed daily check, door disciplines not being maintained, holes in structures allowing pests in or poor housekeeping? Was it reported correctly and followed up? Businesses that fail to “close the loop” on pest issues are left with no defence when regulators or auditors step in.
A More Responsible Approach
The pest control industry has seen changes in how it responds to infestations. Glue boards, for example, are now restricted due to welfare concerns. While they were once used as a last resort, today’s approach focuses more on humane, ethical methods—such as smarter trapping technology, site-specific proofing, and behaviour-led control strategies. Ensure that your pest control contractor is using various measures to prevent and eradicate pests.
This shift also aligns with consumer expectations and the responsibilities businesses have under health and safety law.
Support That Helps You Stay Ahead
At Shield Safety, we know pest control is about more than reacting to problems – it’s about preventing them through robust, day-to-day practices and having the right support behind you.
We work with businesses to:
- Develop monitoring procedures
- Conduct regular audits and checks
- Offer immediate advice through our Safety Advice Line when issues arise
By working proactively, businesses can not only reduce the chance of infestations but also demonstrate compliance, maintain operational integrity, and protect their brand.
