Proactive Pest Monitoring That Keeps Your Premises Clean and Your Records Complete
Your pest control contractor visits every eight weeks, but between visits your team is supposed to be checking bait stations, monitoring for signs of activity, and keeping records.
Your pest control contractor visits every eight weeks, but between visits your team is supposed to be checking bait stations, monitoring for signs of activity, and keeping records. The reality is that the checklist pinned to the wall has not been touched in three weeks, the bait station in the dry store was moved during a delivery and never replaced, and nobody noticed the mouse droppings behind the shelving until a member of staff spotted a mouse during service. Under Regulation (EC) 852/2004, Annex II, Chapter IX, food premises must have adequate procedures to ensure pests are controlled. The Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006 reinforce this, and EHOs assess pest control as part of the structural compliance score on the FHRS. Paddl digitises your in-house pest monitoring so that between professional visits, your checks actually happen, your records are complete, and early warning signs do not go unnoticed.
What businesses struggle with
Monitoring Checks Are Missed Between Contractor Visits
In-house pest monitoring depends on staff remembering to check bait stations and inspect vulnerable areas. During busy periods, these checks are the first to be skipped.
No Documentation for Inspectors
EHOs want to see in-house pest monitoring records, not just your contractor's reports. Without a documented system, you lose points on the structural compliance element of the FHRS.
Reactive Rather Than Proactive
Without regular monitoring, pest issues are only discovered when they become visible during service. By that point, the problem is established and more expensive to resolve.
Contractor Reports Are Not Integrated
Your pest control contractor's reports live in a separate system or folder. There is no single view combining professional visits with your in-house monitoring.
Professional Contractors Are Not Enough on Their Own
Having a pest control contract is necessary but not sufficient. EHOs expect to see evidence of in-house monitoring between professional visits. They want to know that your team checks bait stations regularly, inspects delivery areas for signs of activity, and reports issues promptly. A contractor visit every six or eight weeks does not cover the gaps in between.
The challenge is consistency. In-house pest monitoring is a routine task that competes with cooking, serving, and cleaning. Without reminders and accountability, it slips. Paper pest monitoring logs have the same problem as all paper records: they get completed sporadically, they get lost, and they cannot prove when checks were actually done.
Paddl turns pest monitoring into a scheduled routine with push notification reminders, timestamped completion records, and escalation alerts if issues are found. Your team checks bait stations on schedule, records any activity they see, and managers are alerted immediately when something requires attention. The result is a complete pest monitoring record that satisfies inspectors and catches problems early.
How Paddl helps
Scheduled Monitoring Routines
Set up weekly or fortnightly pest monitoring checks as scheduled routines. Staff receive push notifications when checks are due and complete them from the mobile app.
Digital Monitoring Logs
Replace paper pest monitoring sheets with digital records. Staff log bait station checks, record any signs of activity, and attach photos of anything concerning. Every entry is timestamped.
Immediate Alert Escalation
When a monitoring check identifies signs of pest activity, Paddl alerts the manager immediately. No more waiting until the next morning or the next contractor visit to learn about an issue.
Integrated Record Keeping
Store contractor visit reports alongside your in-house monitoring logs. Present inspectors with a complete pest management record from one system.
Everything you need
Pest Monitoring Routines
Scheduled checks for bait stations, entry points, storage areas, and waste zones. Configurable frequency and assignment so the right team members check the right areas.
Activity Logging
Record signs of pest activity with categorisation (droppings, gnaw marks, sightings, damage), location, severity, and photographic evidence. Build a detailed activity history.
Photo Evidence Capture
Attach photos to any monitoring record. Document issues, evidence of activity, or the condition of bait stations and proofing measures.
Manager Alerts
Immediate notifications when monitoring checks reveal concerns. Configurable severity thresholds so managers are alerted to genuine issues without notification fatigue.
Contractor Report Storage
Upload and store professional pest control reports alongside your in-house records. One location for your complete pest management documentation.
The numbers that matter
Common questions
Do I still need a professional pest control contractor?
Yes. Paddl's pest monitoring routines complement professional pest control, they do not replace it. A qualified contractor handles baiting, proofing, and treatment. Paddl ensures your in-house monitoring between visits is consistent, documented, and alerting you to issues early.
What do EHOs check regarding pest control?
Inspectors assess physical proofing measures (sealed entry points, intact screens), your pest control contract and reports, evidence of in-house monitoring, the condition of bait stations, and any signs of pest activity on the premises. Documented monitoring records strengthen your structural compliance score.
How often should in-house pest checks be done?
Best practice for most food businesses is weekly checks of bait stations and vulnerable areas, with daily visual inspections of delivery and waste areas. Paddl lets you set the frequency that matches your risk level and your contractor's recommendations.
Can I track pest activity trends over time?
Yes. Paddl stores all monitoring records historically so you can review activity over weeks and months. This helps identify seasonal patterns, persistent problem areas, and the effectiveness of your pest control measures.
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