How Fleas End Up in a Workplace
Fleas need an animal to breed, so the first question is always which animal. In business premises the answer is rarely obvious and usually one of a short list.
- An office dog, or staff who bring their dogs in now and then.
- A cat, often a stray or a neighbour's, that has found a warm corner of a warehouse, unit or plant room to sleep in.
- Wildlife or birds nesting in a roof, a loading bay or a void, whose fleas move when the nest is abandoned.
- Carpets or furniture moved in from somewhere that had an infestation.
Fleas bite people but do not live on them, so staff do not carry an infestation around with them. What they can do is bring a stray flea in on clothing from home, which is worth keeping in mind when only one desk seems affected.
Where to Look on the Premises
Think about where an animal rests, not where people work. The places that matter are often the quiet ones: under desks where a dog lies, carpet tiles by radiators, the back of a store room, soft seating in a reception or break area, and anywhere warm and undisturbed in a warehouse or workshop.
A pair of white socks walked slowly across the carpet in each area, or a strip of damp white paper under a suspected resting spot, will show fleas or flea dirt. Knowing which areas are affected before you ring keeps the visit focused.
Planning the Visit Around the Business
Treated areas have to be clear of people and animals until the treatment has dried. For most workplaces that means an evening, a weekend or an early start before staff arrive, and we will plan it around the times the building is empty.
- Name one contact who can let us in and answer questions on the day.
- Clear floors of boxes, bags and anything stored under desks.
- Vacuum the carpets thoroughly beforehand, including under furniture.
- Tell us about fish tanks, any animals kept on site, and staff who are pregnant or have asthma or another breathing condition.
Find the animal. Treating the carpets without stopping the source means the fleas return. If there is a site cat, a dog, or a nest in the roof, that has to be part of the plan.
Price, Paperwork and Staff
Business premises vary too much for a single figure to be fair, so the price is confirmed for your premises before anything is booked. We can invoice the business or the landlord, whichever is paying. Staff tend to worry, so a short note explaining what is being done, when, and when they can return helps a lot.
Theale sits beside the M4 with business parks and industrial estates close together, and we cover offices, units and warehouses there and across the area west of Reading. Our wider advice on pest control for businesses covers the broader duties.