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#1 Posted : 24 September 2003 11:02:00(UTC)
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Posted By Neil Pearson
Just thought I'd share an interesting case. I get quite a variety in my work, but I've just had one to cap them all!

I had a call from someone asking if I can produce material safety data sheets. It just so happens that chemical risks are my thing, and I can. Mixtures of acids, solvents, you name it, no problem.

But this product is for repelling cats. It's basically pellets soaked in lion poo. They boil up lion poo in water, drain off the liquid and soak the pellets in it.

I talked to zoos, to vaious experts and I'm happy I got the right answers, but it just reminded me why I'm in this profession. Not because I have to deal with alot of... but because of the variety of problems. Keeps me interested, anyway!
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#2 Posted : 24 September 2003 11:13:00(UTC)
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Posted By Bryn Maidment
Ah! the novelty of diversity. All too often I find the novelty wears off and I give in to despair and apathy but then another unusual issue crops up and I'm back up again. I surprise my friends when I say that on balance I do really enjoy my job - none of them can say the same!!

Oh and BTW the product is called 'Silent Roar'
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#3 Posted : 24 September 2003 12:08:00(UTC)
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Posted By Nick Higginson
Neil

A tough day at the office.

I'm sure scratching around for the information left you feline a little frustrated.

But don't take this lion down, paws for thought and land on your feet.

Sorry

Nick

PS I am sure the Safety Data Sheet doesn't present too many problems, but have you managed to get hold of the risk assessment for getting hold of lion poo in the first place????
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#4 Posted : 24 September 2003 12:23:00(UTC)
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Posted By Ian Stone
In a former job I worked looking after Lions and Tigers in a wildlife park, we used to sell the poo to deter pests from gardens. When the animals are locked away in the eve we used to go in with buckets and spades and collect the poo. We also had a tame tiger who we used for publicity work so when it was produced we could go in and pick up fresh!

Ian
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#5 Posted : 24 September 2003 12:25:00(UTC)
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Posted By Geoff Burt
This seems to be going over my head - I can't find 'poo' in the dictionary.

Is it something I should be worried about when doing COSHH assessments?
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#6 Posted : 24 September 2003 12:29:00(UTC)
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Posted By Sarah J Shaw
Neil

I was amused by the MSDS request you received. I would like to add the flip side to the frustration of MSDS requests.

Working for a chemical manufacturer and lab supplier, we frequently get requests for MSDS sheets. The following is a list of the more rediculous ones:
A brush
A plastic bucket
A glass beaker
water
Even when you tell people that they don't need an MSDS for the item in question, they insist as that is what their company procedure states.

I enjoy the diversity of my role, but get extreemly frustrated with some companies' lack of training for their staff.

By the way I have found the Lion Poo has worked quite well.
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#7 Posted : 24 September 2003 13:30:00(UTC)
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Posted By Ken Taylor
One of our schools keeps peacocks, cranes (bird type), water fowl, exotic birds (bird type), and red squirrels - for which I have had to advise on risk assessments, safe working practices, etc. I am wondering what form of wildlife will next be acquired but will contact you if lions appear.
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#8 Posted : 24 September 2003 14:22:00(UTC)
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Posted By Neil Pearson
Whoops! I went to alot of effort not to reveal too much on the data sheet, and now everyone knows the product name and the ingredients! Well done, Neil.

Geoff - you're right, "poo" is not in the dictionary, but "pooh" is in the Shorter Oxford. The definition is "a polite term for what health & safety professionals have to deal with every day."

Nick - in the mane, we should try to avoid too many puns.

Thanks everyone who's joined in this thread, good to see we still have a sense of humour...
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#9 Posted : 24 September 2003 14:29:00(UTC)
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Posted By Danny Swygart
I couldn't find poo in the dictionary either, but it is in EH40. It has a very low STEL especially for domestic cats.

Meeeeeeooow
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#10 Posted : 24 September 2003 18:27:00(UTC)
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Posted By Geoff Burt
Neil

You've got a different dictionary to me!

Pooh - of distain. And pooh pooh - to make light of.

Right, I've got it now. Colleages hold us in distain and make light of it.

The next entry is Pooh-Bar but this is definitely not for sticking up lions to obtain an MSDS.

I must have something better to do.

Geoff
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#11 Posted : 25 September 2003 10:14:00(UTC)
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Posted By Neil Pearson
Okay, we are officially all mad. Any IOSH staff reading this must wonder why they bother!
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