If you’ve ever seen Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares or Filthy Britain SOS, you know it's serious when a business has a pest problem. The business is closed, commercial exterminators are called in, and there’s no guarantee the business will be allowed to reopen. But off the big screen, is finding a pest on the premises really as dramatic and dire?

 

The answer is a yes and a no. A pest infestation often points to a larger problem in the business: a poor attitude to hygiene, safety, and legally required procedures. The more severe the infestation, the more apparent it is that the business has little regard for its employees, customers, products, or the law.

 

But pests are a recurring factor of everyday life, even with the most robust business pest control protocols. For this reason, most businesses aren’t forced to close with an emergency prohibition notice the moment a pest is reported by a customer.

 

Even if you are not a food business, cross-infestation and health hazards must be kept under control, else you can face a closure notice. What’s important is to keep calm, call commercial pest control services, and be responsible. In this blog, our South Wales pest control experts weigh in on the severity of each pest and how likely it is to close the premises.

Will a Pest Infestation Force Your Business to Close?

If you ask an AI, it's likely to tell you the same worrying lines no matter the bug or animal at hand. That’s because all businesses must keep workplaces safe and free from known hazards under health regulations, regardless of whether it handles food or not. Whether the pest is a trail of ants in the office kitchen or a den of rats in the warehouse, it must be treated in due time.

 

That said, some pests are not as serious as others, and you can rest easy knowing an emergency prohibition notice will not loom over your head if the commercial exterminators can’t deal with it immediately. Here are the most common pests and the danger they present to business operations.

Can a Business Get Shut Down for Cockroaches?

Cockroach infestations are such a health hazard that businesses can be shut down on an emergency notice if reported or discovered by a health inspector. The health and hygiene hazards that cockroaches present barely need to be said. If you find an infestation, you need to call commercial exterminators as soon as possible.

Can a Business Get Shut Down for Bedbugs?

Bed bugs are a significant cross-infestation hazard for any business and must be taken seriously, even with robust cleaning measures in place. That said, emergency closure notices are primarily issued for care or hospitality businesses where cross-infestation has the highest risk. Most voluntarily close the affected area or building until commercial exterminators have assessed and resolved the situation.

 

That doesn’t mean regular businesses are immune to closure. If the problem is allowed to persist, employees can report unsafe conditions and refuse to work if the infestation is affecting them significantly.

Can a Business Get Shut Down For Flies?

As flies are airborne and travel long distances every day, you won’t get shut down for one or two flies making their way onto the premises. But if flies are breeding and swarming on-premises, it's a sign your hygiene procedures are incredibly lacking. If you lack appropriate business pest control and hygiene measures, and flies can access food unhindered, you can be issued with a closure notice. Best practice is to invest in insect screens and a UV fly zapper.

Can a Business Get Shut Down For Rats?

Rats are a serious transmitter of deadly bacteria and diseases, making them one of the pests that can force business closure if reported to the local authority. But they are also one of the most commonly recurring pests. A closure notice will largely depend on how effective the business's pest prevention and hygiene procedures are. That’s why most businesses subscribe to commercial pest control services to ensure premises are rodent-free.

Can a Business Get Shut Down for Fleas?

Fleas aren’t considered a serious hazard to warrant a closure notice for most human-focused businesses. In most cases, a deep clean will get rid of them. For pet-focused businesses like groomers, kennels, and zoos, however, fleas are a cross-infestation hazard and must be treated seriously. A pet-focused business can be forced to close for having inadequate cleaning procedures that fail to prevent fleas breeding on-site.

Can a Business Get Shut Down for Stored Product Insects?

Stored product insects are beetles and moths that lay eggs where dry food like rice or wheat is stored. The larvae then eat the food, introducing moisture and dangerous bacteria that spoil the food ahead of time. This makes SPIs a contamination hazard serious enough to warrant a closure notice if detected by an inspector.

Can a Business Get Shut Down For Wasps or Bees?

You’re not likely to get shut down for wasp or bee hives located close to the premises. Wasps and bees aren’t a disease or cross-infestation hazard, but their stings and territorial behaviour do pose a risk to staff and customer safety. You also won’t win points with the health inspector if these insects are allowed to feed and linger around the premises. The good news is wasps and bees are some of the easiest pests to prevent. Just ask your local commercial pest control services to install insect screens to keep them away from food preparation and eating areas.