Don’t Let Rodents Eat Your Profits

Don’t let rodents eat your profits

by David Etherington

copyright 2012

The risks involved where rats are concerned is something every business should take seriously. While a rat on a construction site may not be a big issue, a rat in the warehouse or the kitchen of a food premises could lead to the loss of brand reputation, loss of consumer trust, production losses, product recalls, lost sales, disrupted production and compensation claims. However prosecution is perhaps the biggest threat to your business.

Changing the environment and proofing gaps before rats gain access is much easier than trying to evict them after they have set up home. As with proofing to prevent entry to buildings discouraging rats from harbouring too close to your business is also a very important consideration. Ensure overgrown amenity areas are cut back and unsecured food waste is not left out overnight. Doors and windows are other common entry points and must be kept closed at all times. If this is not feasible, a door closure policy should be adopted. Gaps under doors should also be proofed.

Employees should be made aware of the signs of a rodent infestation. Signs of infestation include droppings, odours, damaged packaging, wall discolouration. The importance of reporting these signs immediately should be stressed to all your employees.

Good hygiene practices practices should also be introduced these should include proper waste control and cleaning routines. Stored product should be kept covered and preparation areas should be kept clean. Food should not be stored on the floor or near walls. Food and beverage spills must be cleaned immediately. Food should never be left outside the facility. This means trash should be picked up immediately.

Brand reputation

One of the most infamous cases in resent years occurred back in 2009. An oil company worker in the United States reported finding a mouse in a can of Soda. He claimed he got a can out of the vending machine and nearly choked on a mouse inside. After placing the mouse in a Styrofoam cup for display to coworkers, he called the manufacturers. The company stopped production on the offending line, and a representative attempted to collect the dead mouse, but the evidence was gone. Damages in excess of $50,000 were sought. The manufacturers lawyers argued that the man could not have choked on a mouse because the chemicals in the drink would have dissolved it. The defence caused as much brand damage as the incident itself.
Controlling rats

After consideration of the above points place the secured baits and/or traps in areas where the rats have been noticed. Check for and remove carcasses daily and continue with the program until no further activity is apparent.

Tracking dust can help identify entry points and runs which will help you decide where to set rat traps and or rat poison and where to proof to prevent re infestation.

Poisons should be secured so that pets, birds and other wildlife can’t gain access as rat poison will kill them as easily as it will kill rats.

http://www.pestek.co.uk

Synergy Savings

Told you guys I would start using this in a sentence. Synergy Savings is when you have 2 or more people come together and because they did come together their synergy causes a savings in time, more or assets. That’s my definition. This means working with someone saves you time, trouble and makes you money. When YOU work with someone, they should save time, trouble and be able to make some money. That is why some people never run out of partners to joint venture with. Because they always help people make money, save time and save a lot of headache.

Who wants to make a buck and it takes 10,000 years? Who wants to make some money and it’s such a hassle because the plan is super convoluted and takes a lot of steps. Lots of steps are for when you want to confuse someone and prevent them from success. Keeping it simple means you want the person to win. A good win means in this present time. It’s great to have something that will come in on that ship called “Someday” however, right now I have bills to pay.

In 2013 we should all be looking for Synergy savings.

Here is the HOW-TO I promised:

The next business book you read, not only figure out what lessons in there will (if you incorporate them) save you time, save you trouble and make you money. Write them down, give yourself a dead line to do them and make a note on your blog about the results.

Example: I read 4 Hour Chef and decided to try using that method of building a fire in the fire place. I adore a good fire on a cold day and once California winter kicks in, I use my fire place a LOT!  If it works, I will be able to start a fire using the less expensive kindling/fire starters instead of a full fire starter log that costs $5 each. I won’t have to keep adding wood and poking the fire for the 4-5 hours. I will have less ashes when the fire has burned all the wood. I will have more heat from the fire.

Results: It works, less ashes, no adding wood the fire or going outside to get wood in the cold, dark night. The fire is HUGE!!, so clearly I can use less wood. Some pieces feel out of the fireplace and onto the tile, setting the smoke alarm and making the house smell like – well like the house was on fire. It wasn’t, I am fine and clearly, my fire alarms work.

Bonus: Now I blame everything on that goes wrong on Tim Ferris author of 4 hour Chef, because that’s whose name I was cursing when I had to clean up the mess.

Yes, I saved time, will save the trouble and will save money. Synergy Savings from what I learned in a book.

Here’s another Synergy Savings:

2013 Social Media Strategy with  Dr. Letitia Wright  You’ll Learn: Why bother with social media ( I’ll show you where the money is) Which social media (I’ll tell you the ones that matter) Who needs social media (Your biz needs differ from your personal needs) When (the best times to get the best results from your social media) What (What’s social media and what’s Publicity?) How (How to keep your social media flowing effortlessly without spending more then 1 hour a week on it) All New Materials!! You will get it as a digital download Be really read for 2013!

Our Price: $7 Value: $ 89

                      $7

Is it Really Overwhelm?

Stop it with the Overwhelm!

Here’s the deal. Everyone is talking about how they are over whelmed by information, by duties, by the holidays- there are entire lists they go through.

For most people here is a new thought. Maybe you are not overwhelmed. Maybe you agreed to do things that you never wanted to do. Or you agreed to do things that you have since changed your mind about and no longer wish to do. But you won’t give yourself to permission to change or let people know. So you just flake out and say you are over whelmed.

Maybe you just don’t want to do what is required for a particular thing. There may have been requirements you didn’t know about when you agreed, or you just see the entire project and don’t want to be bothered doing it.

So we use over-whelm as a catchall.

In 2013, let’s just start saying no.

« Previous Page — Next Page »