IKL Knowledge

Policies & Procedures

LODGE & ROOM SECURITY

29. Bed Bugs CONTINUED

Bed Bugs

How to detect bed bugs: Unlike other crawling pests, there is limited early warning of detection of bed bugs. Guests with bites are not a reliable source of notice of infestation, particularly as some people may not be aware that they have suffered. Also, as the issue is clearly highly sensitive, guests may be reluctant to express their concerns. The reliance will therefore fall generally onto the housekeeping team and their daily observa- tions. The problem is not only noticing signs of insects in the first place but also then ensuring they are not being transported around the property e.g. with linen or in vacuum cleaners. • A guest may have a unexplained skin rash or itchy bump (although not everyone develops this) • Black spots on your mattress – this could be the bugs dried faeces • Mottled shells that bedbugs may have shed • Check your sheets for blood spots where guests may have rolled over and squashed a bug after it had fed • Inspect all the crevices and joints of your mattress and furniture using a torch, and see if you can spot any bugs • There may be an unpleasant, musty scent in rooms with a large infestation – adult bedbugs produce this odour with their scent glands when disturbed • Housekeepers must ensure that all mattresses are thoroughly vacuumed prior to rotating every 3 months Housekeepers need to be trained to look out for the following:

Treatment of an infestation should it occur

One of the main keys to success in treating bed bug infestation is to be thorough. The Company Pest Control Company must be contacted immediately so that the neccesary treatment to eradicate the insects can be arranged. The flowchart in Appendix 1 details the responsibilities of the hotel and of the Pest Control Company should an infestation be discovered.

When infestation occurs:

• The room concerned needs to be isolated, other adjacent rooms may be required to be isolated – the Pest Control Company will advise of follow up actions following their visit. This may include further isolation of rooms and other treatment procedures / actions • Put the room out of order on Opera (including the reason why) and notify Central Reservations • Inform RBM and Central Reservations Immediately • Inform the Pest Control Company and Laundry supplier immediately • Linen should be bagged up in its own bag and left in situ for removal • Movement of any other items from the room should be restricted • Inspection should be carried out to identify harbourages and the best way to treat them. The inspection should take into account the rooms adjacent and above and below as should the insecticidal treatment. Also at this point other rooms involved in the chain of events should be identified i.e. where there has been movement from room to room of guests, linen or items of furniture. Treatment / risk should be considered • Vacuum cleaning should be undertaken before and after treatment to assist with physical removal • The Pest Control Company will carry out the neccesary treatment. Please see the flowchart for details • In those hotels where problems persist, site plans should be provided to record and log infestation and guest movements. The log should be kept with housekeeping to accurately note any problems on discovery • In those hotels where there have been persistent problems the treated rooms should be re-checked again by the Pest Control Company after approximately four weeks

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Innkeeper’s Lodge

Policies & Procedures Guide