CPFS Facility Maintenance & Pest Control 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which maintenance practice BEST prevents the buildup of grease that can attract pests and create fire hazards?
- Replacing hood filters annually
- Cleaning exhaust hood filters and grease traps on a scheduled basis (Correct answer)
- Painting grease traps with high-temperature coating
- Operating exhaust fans only during cooking hours
Correct answer: Cleaning exhaust hood filters and grease traps on a scheduled basis
Regularly cleaning hood filters and grease traps removes accumulated grease that attracts pests and poses fire risks.
Question 2: Stored product pests such as weevils and flour beetles are MOST effectively controlled by:
- Freezing incoming grain products for 48 hours before storage (Correct answer)
- Storing all dry goods in original paper bags on the floor
- Applying residual pesticides inside dry storage shelving
- Increasing storage room humidity to above 70%
Correct answer: Freezing incoming grain products for 48 hours before storage
Freezing incoming dry goods at 0°F for 48 hours kills stored product pest eggs, larvae, and adults.
Question 3: What does the term 'exclusion' mean in the context of pest control?
- Removing all pests found inside a facility using traps
- Physically blocking pests from entering a structure through gaps, cracks, and openings (Correct answer)
- Excluding staff from areas treated with pesticides
- Isolating infested food products in sealed containers
Correct answer: Physically blocking pests from entering a structure through gaps, cracks, and openings
Exclusion refers to sealing or blocking all physical entry points to prevent pests from accessing the facility.
Question 4: A pest control operator's service report should be kept on file for a minimum of how long?
- 30 days
- 6 months
- 1 year
- At least 1–2 years or as required by local regulation (Correct answer)
Correct answer: At least 1–2 years or as required by local regulation
Pest control service records should be retained for at least one to two years to document treatment history for inspectors.
Question 5: Which type of pest monitoring device is placed along rodent runways to detect activity without killing rodents?
- Snap trap
- Tracking powder station
- Non-toxic monitoring station with tracking medium (Correct answer)
- Electrocution trap
Correct answer: Non-toxic monitoring station with tracking medium
Non-toxic monitoring stations containing tracking medium (such as wax or dust) show footprints, confirming rodent presence without a kill.
Question 6: Why should pesticides NEVER be stored in food storage or preparation areas?
- Pesticides lose potency when stored near food
- They can contaminate food, causing illness or regulatory violations (Correct answer)
- Pesticides require refrigeration unavailable in dry storage
- Health codes require pesticides to be kept at room temperature only
Correct answer: They can contaminate food, causing illness or regulatory violations
Storing pesticides near food creates contamination risk and violates food safety codes, potentially making food unsafe.
Question 7: Which structural material is MOST effective for blocking rodent entry points at floor-wall junctions?
- Steel wool packed tightly into gaps
- Hydraulic cement or sheet metal plates (Correct answer)
- Foam spray insulation alone
- Caulk applied along the baseboard
Correct answer: Hydraulic cement or sheet metal plates
Hydraulic cement or sheet metal provides a hard, chew-resistant barrier that rodents cannot gnaw through.
CPFS Facility Maintenance & Pest Control 3
Which maintenance practice BEST prevents the buildup of grease that can attract pests and create fire hazards?