1. Food Defense
FOOD
DEFENSEAre you using the pest control operators
who service your facility for more than
just pest control? They may be your best
defense in food defense!
AIB UPDATE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 5

2. Food Defense
I
n addition to plant managers, QA man-
agers, and other food industry person-
nel who typically complete AIB’s Food
Defense Coordinator courses, there also
are always several attendees from pest
control companies. Did you know that
the pest control operators (PCOs) who
service your food operation can be a great asset
in protecting your facility, products, and people
from intentional contamination or harm?
There are typically several contractors at your
facility on any given day. These could include
suppliers, vendor service providers, uniform
service providers, truck drivers, contracted
maintenance workers, and pest control ser-
vice providers. Interestingly, the pest control
provider is the one contractor who likely has
access to all areas of a food processing plant,
makes several observations, and walks the entire
inner and outer perimeter of a facility. While
performing their essential and contracted du-
ties, pest control operators service pest control
devices inside and around the facility and look
for signs of pest infestation.
PEST CONTROL AS DEFENSE. So, how
do pest control operators help keep a food
facility safe from intentional contamination or
harm? There are many ways:
• PCOs are typically very familiar with the
normal operations of the facilities they ser-
vice. They know the building structure and
layout, the components of the operations,
the products being produced and processed
at the plant, and the number of people typi-
cally found at the particular location.
• They survey the building looking for unusual
circumstances, damage, and openings to the
building where a pest could enter. Being
keenly aware and monitoring the facility is
critical to the pest control operator’s success.
• PCOs often observe the surrounding land-
scape (i.e., trees and bushes) that could
become pest harborages. They make note of
these conditions, bring them to the atten-
tion of plant management, and recommend
measures to eliminate or reduce the risk of
pests entering the facility.
• They also are aware of neighboring buildings
and property conditions that may attract
pests. This includes waterways, streams,
railroad tracks, dense forests, and other such
areas.
Someone planning an attack against a food
facility will likely do so by observing the facil-
ity operations. This may include watching the
facility premises, taking pictures of the property,
tugging on perimeter doors to determine if there
is access, or simply asking suspicious questions
about the plant and its operations.
Pest control operators who have been trained
in food defense and facility protection can be a
great asset to the overall security of a food plant.
In addition to their regular duties of looking for
and protecting against pests, they can look for
red flags that could indicate suspicious activity
while making their rounds of the facility. For
THE PEST CONTROL
OPERATOR COULD
PERFORM A
MINI SECURITY
VULNERABILITY
ASSESSMENT AT EACH
VISIT TO THE FACILITY.
Pest control
operators who
have been
trained in food
defense and
facility protection
can be a great
asset to the
overall security of
a food plant.
6 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 AIB UPDATE

3. Food Defense
example, while servicing bait stations
along the exterior perimeter, PCOs can
look for overgrown bushes and shrubs in
which someone could hide, observe the
lighting fixtures, make note of areas out-
side the plant where it appears a person or
persons has been by propping a perimeter
door open, and anything else that appears
unusual.They can observe areas along ex-
terior perimeter fencing that are damaged
and increase the security vulnerability to
harmful activity.
During a recent facility security vulner-
ability assessment, I noticed obvious tool
indentations at a perimeter door that led
into the processing plant, indicating that
someone had attempted to break into
the facility. It was obvious that someone
had tried to pry open the lock to gain
unauthorized entry. Interestingly, the pest
control operator had recently placed a
rodent bait station near this door, so my
investigation included talking with him
to try to determine a timeframe that this
attempted break-in occurred. The pest
control operator was extremely helpful
and indicated that the tool marks on that
door occurred after his last visit to the
plant, which was within a week. Thanks
to an alert and observant pest control
operator, local police were able to rapidly
move forward with their investigation in
an attempt to solve the case.
Pest control operators can observe the
perimeter camera systems to determine if
the cameras are damaged or if vegetation
or other materials have blocked the view
of the camera. They can observe incom-
ing gas lines for tampering and make sure
product ingredient ports are locked and
sealed. They can look around the lot to
see if they notice any used seals that have
been removed from trailers or tankers and
improperly disposed of.
They also can monitor parking lots
while servicing the exterior perimeter to
observe any suspicious vehicles parked on
the company lot. If your facility has an
established parking program, your PCO
can make note of vehicles that are not in
compliance with company requirements
(e.g., not displaying the required decal).
While making outside observations,
operators can look at security signage to
ensure the paint or ink is not wearing
off and that the signs are visible, read-
able, and able to be seen at night. While
looking at perimeter doors, they can
ensure that all are numbered, and that
the numbers are in chronological order,
and can be readily identified in an emer-
gency. Further, the PCO can note any
unoccupied service or delivery vehicles
on the company lot that are left with the
engines running and keys in the ignition.
Removing keys and turning off vehicles
while unattended is critical in preventing
the theft of entire loads of products.
Pest control operators also can help
inside the facility. Walking through the
entire facility gives the PCO the opportu-
nity to identify people who may be violat-
ing or compromising security procedures
(e.g., not wearing required identification
badges, propping a perimeter door open,
acting suspicious, etc.).They can observe
other visitors and contractors to ensure
they are following established company
security guidelines.They also can look for
objects and occurrences that appear to be
out of place (e.g., boxes or chemicals that
are out in the open and unattended) and
make note of any cameras that do not
appear to be operating properly.
PCOs who have been trained in food
defense also can recommend countermea-
sures to plant management in an effort
to enhance the overall security of the
facility. For example, if a perimeter door
is not used for entry but still has hardware
While looking for and protecting against
pests during their rounds of a facility,
pest control operators who have been
trained in food defense and facility
protection can look for red flags that
could indicate suspicious activity.
AIB UPDATE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 7

4. Food Defense
on the outside, the hardware should be
removed; if the facility’s visitor log is not
being properly filled in, the PCO could
bring this security concern to manage-
ment’s attention. Basically, the pest
control operator would be performing a
mini security-vulnerability assessment at
each visit to the facility.
THE ENHANCED INSPECTION. To
take full advantage of the PCO’s ability to
provide this enhanced service, you should
discuss the option with your pest control
provider. You could plan to provide your
PCO with a mini security-assessment
list that identifies your specific areas of
concern or have the operator perform
a mini assessment in a different area of
the operation at each visit. For example,
one week the assessment could consist of
looking at security measures within ship-
ping and handling. The list might ask:
Become a
Food Defense Coordinator
San Diego, CA • February 10-12, 2015
Tampa, FL • April 14-16, 2015
Kansas City, MO • June 2-4, 2015
>> Enroll now!
www.aibonline.org
Call: 800-633-5137 Email: info@aibonline.org
Are you prepared to
handle intentional
contamination,
workplace violence, and
other crisis situations at
your facility?
latest FSMA rules included
• Are seals being properly used and
secured when not in use?
• Are dock doors being locked when
unattended?
• Is the outside dumpster free from
products or other materials that could
potentially harm someone?
In order for a pest control operator to
be an effective asset to plant management,
he or she should have continuing and
documentable training in food defense,
with an emphasis on conducting security
vulnerability assessments. The training
should focus on the added responsibilities
of the pest control operator, understand-
ing crime and terrorism at a food facil-
ity, and working with management to
recognize and report suspicious activity,
understand security systems, spot outside
foliage and shrubbery concerns, and ad-
dress any other security-related matters.
The PCOs should be well versed in Food
Safety Modernization Act requirements
regarding food defense.
Pest control operators can be a vital as-
set to a food facility’s food-defense opera-
tions. Whether there is a contractor who
refuses to follow established protocols, a
temporary worker who is unaware of the
security requirements, or suspicious activ-
ity indicating a brewing act of workplace
violence, pest control operators trained in
food defense and facility protection that
take note of and inform management of
observed circumstances are very benefi-
cial. Pest management companies who
staff appropriately trained pest control
operators offer a value-added service to
their clients and put themselves one step
ahead of their competitors. AIB
The author is Subject Matter Expert, Food
Defense, AIB International.
8 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 AIB UPDATE