When Is Wasp Season in Parkeston?

Commercial buildings that are only partly in use can host a nest for weeks unnoticed, so a regular outside check from spring is worth building into the routine.

The building that nobody watches all day

Large commercial buildings often have areas that are used rarely: a roof void, a loading bay shut for the week, a yard corner behind a skip. Wasps do not need much, only a sheltered gap, and a unit in Parkeston that is only partly in use can host a nest for weeks without anyone noticing. By the time somebody does, the colony may be very large.

The calendar is the same one that applies to homes, but the consequences differ. A single sting may mean a first aid incident report, a delayed delivery or a worker who will not go back to a certain area.

Spring: the first walk

Nests are begun from late April, with the weather deciding the date. A first inspection at that time should cover the roof edge, cladding joints, loading doors, gaps in brickwork and any outbuildings. Look also at trees, hedges and landscaping around the unit, and the ground along fences and boundaries.

Use a checklist and assign a named person to complete it. Record the date and result, even when nothing is found. A blank entry is still useful, since it shows the check happened.

• Roof edges, gutters and cladding.
• Roller shutters and door frames.
• Meter boxes, ducts and pipe penetrations.
• Skips, pallets and stored materials.

On large sites, a nest may be some distance from the main work area but close to a route that people use rarely, such as a fire exit or a path to a substation. Include these routes on the check so that they are covered.

Summer: more traffic, more risk

By July the colony is growing fast, and in August it peaks. A nest can hold from 2,000 to 10,000 or more wasps. People using the yard, loading goods or taking breaks near the wall can disturb a nest through noise and vibration, so forklifts, shutters and slammed doors all matter.

Brief staff and visiting drivers. If there is a flight line near an entrance, put a barrier or cone in front of it and use another route. Do not let staff try to knock the nest down or block it with materials.

Drivers and delivery staff who visit the site do not know where nests are. Add a sentence to site induction or visitor notices: "Report any wasp activity to the site manager and keep away from it." It costs nothing and reduces the chance of an accident.

Roof work is another area to watch. Anyone going onto a roof for maintenance or inspection should be told about any known activity, and should not go up if wasps are seen at the edge.

Break areas and bins

Later in the summer the wasps seem keener on sweet food and drink. Staff break areas, picnic tables and drinks machines in the yard draw them in. Keep waste bins closed and set at a distance from entrances, and make sure that overflowing bins are emptied promptly.

Remind staff to keep cans and cups covered. A wasp in a drink can sting the lip or tongue, which is more serious than a sting elsewhere. If someone has swelling of the face, lips or throat, wheezing or difficulty breathing, dizziness or a widespread rash, call 999.

If your site has a canteen or vending area, the sweet-seeking period in late summer will test your housekeeping. Fit lids on bins, empty them daily, and wipe tables frequently.

Brief any security or caretaking staff who walk the site, because they are often the first to notice something unusual at the edge of a building and can pass the word to the manager.

Shared units and landlords

Many commercial units are leased, and the roof, structure and common areas may be the landlord's responsibility. Whether the occupier or the landlord arranges treatment depends on the lease, so check the agreement. In practice, the person who discovers the nest should report it at once, since delay allows the colony to grow.

If the unit is shared, tell other occupiers, and agree one person to make the booking. Provide the technician with access instructions, such as key holders, gate codes and where to park.

Keep in mind that insurance and lease questions are separate from the practical need to make people safe. Do not delay arranging treatment while you resolve who pays.

Plan for the quiet periods as well. If a unit is closed for a holiday shutdown or between tenants, ask someone to look at the outside while it is empty, because a nest can grow unseen while nobody is on site.

Getting the nest treated

Treatment is available for commercial premises, and the technician can usually reach the nest with the right equipment once access is arranged. Keep staff and visitors away from the area until the work is finished. Afterwards, plan repairs to the gap that let wasps in, and add a spring check to next year's maintenance schedule.

Keep records of the work done, including the date, the location of the nest and any repairs made. They help in future years, and may be needed for your own safety records.

Each nest treated by Wasp Nest Removal Essex is a flat £90 per nest with one visit guaranteed, and a second or third nest on the property is an extra £35 each. Work is carried out for domestic and commercial customers alike, fully insured, trading seven days a week and offering same-day service.

Booking is by telephone on 01245 327274 or request a visit through the online form on the contact page. Once you are on the phone, raise the question of taking the empty nest down.

Frequently asked questions

More wasp advice for Parkeston