Download Pest Control - The Pony Club

Pony Club Health and Safety
Pest Control
The most common pests include domestic pets, mice, birds, foxes, rats, insects and
pigeons. In the workplace any unwanted animal that is troublesome or disruptive can
be considered as a pest. They can cause many types of problems, including health
problems, injury and damage including:
bites and scratches.
bacterial or viral infection.
contamination of the product or raw materials or food.
gnawing through electrical cables causing possible equipment failures /
electric shocks
Rodents often carry the bacteria which cause Leptospirosis or Weil’s disease, and
animals such as dogs, hedgehogs, foxes, may carry the bacteria in their kidneys,
excreting potential infection in their urine.
Rats can cause ill-health by transmitting diseases. Other rodents may also carry
salmonella in their droppings and may harbour parasites such as fleas and ticks.
Flies carry salmonella and / or dysentery and birds often carry salmonella and
campylobacter bacteria.
Legal Duties
Legislation requires employers to protect, as far as is reasonably practicable, their
workers and others from any risk to their health or safety or welfare as a result of
their work.
Where pests are regularly present in the workplace because of its location or the
nature of the work, employers have a legal duty to eliminate or reduce the risk of
injury or ill health to their workers. Therefore it is very important to control pests and
ensure the health, safety and welfare of workers and other visitors to the premises.
Control Measures
Care should be taken to ensure compliance with legislation governing the use of
listed chemical agents and pesticides and the protection of endangered species. In
every case of doubt seek specialist advice from a competent person or from the
Enforcing Authority.
1 – June 2015
The use of physical barriers to deny access to pests will help reduce the associated
risks. Secure fencing should be used to keep pets and larger animals from entering
the site. The use of fly screens, fitting self-closing door mechanisms and closing
windows all help prevent the entry of pests. Indirect ventilation systems can be used
to eliminate the need to open windows and doors for ventilation. Integral walls and
floors are ideal ways of preventing pest access as is the fitting of metal plates to the
bottom of doors.
Waste should be stored securely in appropriate receptacles, which should not be
allowed to overflow. Paper waste and boxes should not be allowed to accumulate
because they provide ideal homes for pests. Waste storage areas should be
monitored regularly and waste collections arranged accordingly.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) may be required for certain work activities
where contact with pest. The need for protective equipment should be identified in
the risk assessment.
Do not feed pests as this only encourages them to return to the workplace regularly.
Where there are significant or persistent infestations you may need to use a
specialist pest contractor. Visiting pest control operatives should leave an up to date
record on site, clearly stating what treatments have been administered and where so
that workers and managers will be aware of the presence of treatment boxes, traps
etc.
Where pests are present and until they are eliminated or controlled workers must
take precautions to prevent the spread of infection. Frequent and effective hand
washing and covering open wounds is necessary where pests are present or are
likely to have contaminated working surfaces.
Employees should receive information, instruction and training concerning the
hazards associated with pests, the current treatments being administered, existing
physical and procedural control measures, and any further action that is planned.
Workers and others should understand that they must not interfere with bait boxes or
traps and should report damage or disturbance to these items.
Employees should not be put in a situation that is considered to be high risk and
pose a risk to their health.
Records
The risk assessments relating to pest infestation, the control of pests and the use,
handling and storage of chemicals used for controlling pests should be kept. The
information, instruction and training provided to employees concerning pest control
procedures should be recorded.
2 – June 2015