The death of parents and two children from a family, who were hospitalized from the hotel they were staying at in Fatih on suspicion of food poisoning after eating at a restaurant in Beşiktaş, and the revelation that the hotel had recently been sprayed, has turned attention to occupational health and safety measures taken during hotel pest control. Important warnings have been issued regarding pest control applications in hotels, concerning both guest and employee health.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Müge Ensari Özay, stating that “Pest control in hotels carries significant health risks,” said, “When pesticides are not used controllably, they can lead to acute and chronic health risks. Acute effects include respiratory tract irritation, eye-ear-nose burning, headaches, nausea, skin rashes, or neurological symptoms.”
Dr. Özay also stated that the usage period for rooms or common areas after pest control varies according to the type of product used and the application method, and said, “The ‘re-entry’ period specified in the label instructions is the basic reference; while 1–2 hours of ventilation may be sufficient for some surface sprays, in intensive applications such as fogging or fumigation, the period can exceed 12–24 hours. If label instructions are not clear, the most protective approach is a 24-hour waiting period and strong ventilation.”
Üsküdar University Department of Occupational Health and Safety Faculty Member, R&D and Innovative Policies Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Müge Ensari Özay, pointed out that serious health risks can arise if pest control is not carried out correctly.
Hotels create ideal environments for the reproduction of pests and rodents…
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Müge Ensari Özay noted that hotels are areas with high human circulation, food service, and continuous use under varying climatic conditions, which provides ideal environments for the reproduction of pests and rodents. She stated, “Pests such as cockroaches, bedbugs, rodents, flies, and mosquitoes not only disturb comfort; they also carry public health risks such as salmonella, escherichia coli, leptospirosis, hantavirus, and allergen particles. Therefore, pest control applications are critical for protecting food safety, guest health, and the legal obligations of the business. Correct pesticide control strategies directly affect the sustainability of the business by protecting hotels from biological contamination and hygiene scandals.”
Pesticides can lead to acute and chronic health risks when not used controllably
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Müge Ensari Özay, stating that “Pest control in hotels carries significant health risks,” continued as follows:
“When pesticides are not used controllably, they can lead to acute and chronic health risks. Acute effects include respiratory tract irritation, eye-ear-nose burning, headaches, nausea, skin rashes, or neurological symptoms. In cases of chronic exposure, endocrine system disorders, certain types of cancer, neurotoxic effects, and adverse effects on reproductive health are documented in the literature. Especially after fogging, fumigation, or high-volume applications in enclosed spaces, pesticide residues may remain on surfaces, creating more serious risks for children, the elderly, pregnant individuals, and asthma patients. Incorrect dosage, off-label use, and insufficient ventilation are the main factors increasing the risk of poisoning.”
Rules to be observed for OHS in hotel pest control!
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Müge Ensari Özay pointed out that there are fundamental rules to be observed regarding OHS when pest control is carried out in hotels, stating, “According to Law No. 6331 on Occupational Health and Safety in Turkey, employers are obliged to inform their employees about chemical risks, provide appropriate personal protective equipment (masks, goggles, gloves, overalls), and make Safety Data Sheets (SDS/MSDS) accessible. During application, only trained and certified personnel should work, ventilation should be provided in enclosed spaces, and unauthorized persons should not be allowed in the area. Additionally, a risk assessment must be carried out, the label instructions of the chemicals used must be followed, and re-entry periods must be recorded.”
All products must be licensed!
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Müge Ensari Özay explained that, within the framework of legal regulations regarding pest control in hotels in Turkey, all pesticides used in hotels must be public health products licensed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. She stated that the “Procedures and Principles for Pest Control in Public Health” and the “Biocidal Products Regulation” regulate which products can be used, in what doses, and in which areas. She added, “It is mandatory for firms carrying out the application to have a responsible manager, for their applicators to possess authorization certificates, and for the procedures performed to be recorded. Furthermore, Law No. 6331 on OHS determines the employer’s obligations for training, informing, and protecting during the use of chemicals. In this context, hotels are obliged to ensure both health and regulatory compliance.”
Warning notice should be left, application times announced in advance!
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Müge Ensari Özay also stated that the inspection of pest control service providers is carried out by Provincial and District Health Directorates and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry units, and continued:
“However, the frequency may vary depending on provinces, tourism intensity, and complaint notifications. The validity of firm licenses, the compliance of product labels and licenses, applicator certificates, and record-keeping processes are regularly checked. Informing personnel during pest control processes in hotels is a legal obligation. According to Law No. 6331, employees must be informed about chemicals they may be exposed to, provided with training, and supplied with necessary protective equipment. While guest notification is not explicitly a legal obligation in the legislation, in international best practices, it is recommended to leave a warning notice on the room door, announce application times in advance, or inform guests about closure periods.”
The most protective approach is a 24-hour waiting period and strong ventilation
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Müge Ensari Özay also stated that the usage period for rooms or common areas after pest control varies according to the type of product used and the application method, and concluded her words as follows:
“The ‘re-entry’ period specified in the label instructions is the basic reference; while 1–2 hours of ventilation may be sufficient for some surface sprays, in intensive applications such as fogging or fumigation, the period can exceed 12–24 hours. Before a room or common area is reused, it must be thoroughly ventilated, contact surfaces cleaned, and extra hygiene ensured in food preparation areas. If label instructions are not clear, the most protective approach is a 24-hour waiting period and strong ventilation.”