CPFS Facility Maintenance & Pest Control 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following is the BEST indicator that a rodent infestation is active rather than old?
- Dry, hard droppings with no odor
- Soft, moist droppings with a strong ammonia smell (Correct answer)
- Gnaw marks that have turned gray with age
- Dusty runways with no fresh tracks
Correct answer: Soft, moist droppings with a strong ammonia smell
Fresh rodent droppings are soft, moist, and have a strong ammonia odor, indicating recent activity.
Question 2: An integrated pest management (IPM) program prioritizes which approach FIRST?
- Applying chemical pesticides on a routine schedule
- Identifying and eliminating pest harborage and food sources (Correct answer)
- Setting glue traps along all interior walls
- Calling an exterminator immediately upon seeing any pest
Correct answer: Identifying and eliminating pest harborage and food sources
IPM emphasizes prevention by removing conditions that attract pests before resorting to chemical controls.
Question 3: A foodservice facility should seal exterior wall openings larger than what size to prevent mouse entry?
- 1/2 inch
- 1/4 inch (Correct answer)
- 1 inch
- 3/4 inch
Correct answer: 1/4 inch
Mice can squeeze through openings as small as 1/4 inch, so all gaps of that size or larger must be sealed.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of an air curtain (air door) installed at a loading dock?
- To cool incoming food shipments
- To create a barrier that prevents flying insects from entering (Correct answer)
- To reduce condensation on refrigerator doors
- To exhaust cooking odors from the facility
Correct answer: To create a barrier that prevents flying insects from entering
Air curtains produce a continuous flow of air that deters flying insects from entering open doorways.
Question 5: Which area of a foodservice facility is MOST likely to harbor cockroaches?
- Walk-in freezer interiors
- Warm, moist voids behind equipment motors and compressors (Correct answer)
- Dry storage areas kept at 50°F
- Open stainless steel shelving in walk-in coolers
Correct answer: Warm, moist voids behind equipment motors and compressors
Cockroaches prefer warm, humid, dark environments such as voids near motor heat and moisture sources.
Question 6: When pest control chemicals must be used inside a foodservice facility, they should be applied:
- During peak meal service to ensure rapid pest kill
- Only by a licensed pest control operator, after food is removed from the area (Correct answer)
- Directly onto food contact surfaces for maximum effectiveness
- By any trained kitchen employee following label directions
Correct answer: Only by a licensed pest control operator, after food is removed from the area
Pesticide application inside food facilities must be performed by a licensed operator with food and equipment removed or covered.
Question 7: A manager notices fruit flies congregating near a floor drain. The BEST corrective action is to:
- Pour undiluted bleach down the drain daily
- Clean organic buildup from the drain and maintain regular drain flushing (Correct answer)
- Cover the drain with tape until the infestation subsides
- Spray an aerosol insecticide directly into the drain
Correct answer: Clean organic buildup from the drain and maintain regular drain flushing
Fruit flies breed in organic matter inside drains; removing the organic buildup eliminates their breeding site.
CPFS Facility Maintenance & Pest Control 2
Which of the following is the BEST indicator that a rodent infestation is active rather than old?