Facility Maintenance & Pest Control Flashcards

Which condition would a health inspector cite as a major violation related to facility maintenance?

Answer: Cracks and holes in walls that allow pest entry near the dishwashing area

Cracks and holes allowing pest entry near food handling areas are a major structural violation that directly threatens food safety.

What is 'sanitation' in the context of facility maintenance, as distinguished from 'cleaning'?

Answer: Reducing pathogen levels on a surface to safe levels after cleaning

Sanitation reduces the number of microorganisms to safe levels on a surface that has already been cleaned of visible soil.

A pest sighting log is MOST valuable because it:

Answer: Helps identify pest activity trends and evaluate the effectiveness of control measures

A pest sighting log tracks when, where, and what pests are observed, allowing managers to spot trends and assess whether control measures are working.

Which of the following is an example of a 'harborage' that must be eliminated to control cockroach populations?

Answer: Cardboard boxes stacked against warm kitchen walls

Cardboard boxes stacked against warm walls provide ideal cockroach harborage — dark, warm, and with corrugated hiding spaces.

When receiving a food delivery, a foodservice manager should inspect incoming goods for signs of stored product pests by looking for:

Answer: Webbing, larvae, insect fragments, or damaged packaging

Webbing, larvae, insect fragments, and damaged packaging are signs of stored product pest infestation in incoming deliveries.

What is the MOST appropriate action if a live cockroach is found in a food preparation area during service?

Answer: Immediately stop food preparation in the affected area, remove the pest, clean and sanitize, and notify the manager

An active cockroach sighting during service requires stopping work in the area, removing the pest, and thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing before resuming.

Which structural feature of a food facility is MOST critical to inspect and maintain to prevent bird entry and nesting?

Answer: Exterior roof vents, eaves, and loading dock openings

Birds commonly enter through unscreened roof vents, open eaves, and loading dock gaps, making these the highest-priority exclusion points.