- This topic has 2 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 5 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
Yesterday I read in the paper that Andy Holmes died at really young age of just 51 from a suspected case of Weils Disease a sad loss all the while.
Today my first call is to a Whirlpool AWZ2413 vented dryer where rats have entered the property through the vent hose. 😯
They have chewed through the plastic hose into the utility room and helped themselves to sackfulls on dog biscuits and dog chews. Stuffed the hot air ducting and into the fan housing with their haul to a point where the blower fan was covered in dog biscuits and making a hell of a noise.
My customer, as it turns out, was aware that (what she thought were mice) something was getting at the dogfood???? I get there and the whole place stinks of rat pee. The machine full off rat droppings, dog biscuits and (get this) even made a nest out of shredded paper taken from her paper shredder in her office 2 rooms away!
OK so, silly me, ever keen to sort out the problem then wrestle with clearing the mess up and sorting her dryer out. I commited myself to the task and in fact sorted it out ok (with the exception of a bu&&ered vent hose which I don’t carry on the van) so that the job was done. However the smell of urine everywhere was overpowering, everything I touched was surely so infected, my hands, arms and clothing likewise covered in the stuff. I fully accepted the consequences in that as it was a local call I then went straight home, showered and changed. But all the while my thoughts are…what if?
All this Health & Safety stuff going about these days makes me wonder the likely severity of risk I inadvertantly exposed myself to just to sort out a friggin’ tumble dryer??? After all Andy Holmes just went out for the day on a lake rowing, what risk is there to be had there, other than if your boat sinks and you can’t swim maybe?
Over these many years I have dealt with rat and mice infestations in the persuance of my duties and so far (touch wood) have been OK but, what if?
Have you guys given a thought to the potential dangers in cases like this? Do you walk away from jobs that involve rodents? Do you know what procedures need to be applied when dealing with vermine. Are you fully conversant with your own personally Health & Safety Issues at Work I wonder?
Just another passing thought…….. 😕
Re: Rat invasion!!!!
You should really have sprayed the whole area with strong disinfectant whilst wearing a space suit and evacuated the premises for a week.
Shame about the rower but reading the article you linked to, I got the impression that his was one of only two deaths per year from this cause in this country. So, I expect there’s something else’ll get you before that does.
I also wonder if the bottled water industry might be hyping this up. “Don’t share water bottles. Don’t drink water from rivers or lakes” etc.etc.
Mike.Re: Rat invasion!!!!
we too have had to put up with houses like this in the past and although our vans have disposable gloves we would advise all our engineers to walk away from the call due to hse guidlines one of our guys took pictures of a kitchen with dog mess everywhere and refused call cx tel me about an hour later screeming about my stupid engineer and his refusal to repair her machine oblivious to the crap everywhere i just advised her of the costs of an engineer going off sick and told her we would be pleased to recall when the place was cleard up and after she paid the £55.00 call out charge she paid this but never called back wonder why!!!!
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.