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Posted By MAK
Can anyone advise the best control measures to adopt during demolition of a building with an established pigeon roost in order to prevent airborne spread of the histoplasmosis and cryptococcus fungi spores?
Thanks
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Posted By Rob T
Hi Mak,
I had a similar problem in South Africa a while ago. The only way we were able to deal with it was to hose the area with low pressure water (high pressure blasts can actually blow the spores about). This at least kept the spores down. We used a similar method in the UK but that was just for cleaning purposes.
Hope this helps
Rob
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Posted By Paul L Williams Mak, We tend to outsource the cleaning of pigeon dropping to a pest control company, who are profesionally geared up to handle the associated risks. However if you need specific advice then I would recomment you contact PICAS "the pigeon control advisory service" on 0797 448 52 63 or email enquiries@picas.orgThanks Paul
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Posted By MAK
Thank you all.
Ive decided to go with the following relatively cost effective control measures:
Using a respirator that can filter up to 3 microns
Disposable PPE where there are heavy accumulations present
Droppings to be sealed in secure plastic bags
When finished and while still wearing a respirator remove disposable PPE and seal in a plastic bag.
All removed waste should be taken to a government refuse site.*
Employ measures in any new build to reduce the risk of the roost becoming re-established
*The interesting thing is I called the EA to ask if it was okay to remove bagged droppings to a refuse site he said yes as this isn’t classed as hazardous waste as long its not infected….
Not that I can tell whether all the pigeons and other birds whose droppings have been accumulated over a period of years were ever infected
Nor do I yet know how significant the risk is regarding the prospect of having bags of wet pigeon poo rip open at a refuse site, dry out, and spores travelling on to infect people, particularly those with existing respiratory problems.
However, I may be going too far with this here, but as I am unsure of how far spread the instances or the severity of effects of these fungi are so far in here the UK, Ive now left a message with PICAS the pest control service to find out.
Thanks again
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Posted By STEVE
MAK
Biological Risk
Zoonoses- infections transmissible from animals to humans
Chlamydia Psittaci- disease of birds
Avian Chlamydiosis- reportable under RIDDOR Regs
When dealing with this type of work, you need to look at:
Infectivity of the organism
Route of transmission
Vunrebility of the Individual
Severity of the Disease
Current Controls
Information, Instruction Training Supervision
through samples of bird excrement, carcasses etc it can be decided by laboratory examinations whether the area is infected
Within most bird excrement,carcassess,nesting or roosting area, it can be found that fungal spores, bacteria, micro-organisms, viruses,insects and mites can be found and all are vectors of human disease
I noticed in your controls that you mentioned respiratory protection, and disposable ppe, but what about hygiene procedures(no smoking/eating in area), barriers to keep unwanted personnel away, health assessment of workers who will do the cleaning do they already have low immunity systems , can they wear the RPE. minimise the dust hazard by dampening down, Innoculations
I am sure you wont, but do not take this wste lightly, there was a recent Decontamination Specialist who even though he still wore PPE/RPE, contacted a influenza type virus/flu and was away from work for 10wks.
How far you take it, is up to you and like the EA have advised you it can go as normal waste as long as it is not contaminated(this has a double barreled meaning to me)
Steve
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Posted By steven bentham
Remote demolition by machine!
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