Posted By Karen Bradley
Help - I have been asked to remove a large amount of pigeon droppings from a building in London by a Client. We do not normally get involved in this type of work so I suggested getting in a specialist contractor. However due to the cost it looks like our guys will be carrying out the work - any thoughts on the implications of getting a specialist contractor in to do the work as against our own guys carrying out the work?
Thanks

Posted By Raymond Rapp
Karen

Pigeon droppings if inhaled can cause a flu like symptom. Can't be more specific than that for the moment. As a minimum I would suggest the work should be carried out with operatives wearing dust masks.

Ray

Posted By IT
Zoonotic diseases
Psittacosis

This is a bacterial disease mostly associated with birds. It is also sometimes referred to as ornithosis, parrot fever or pigeon-keepers’ disease. The disease can be caught from other humans but birds are usually the source of infection.

In humans, four to 15 days after contact with an infected bird, influenza-like symptoms may develop with fever, headaches and general aches and pains. Most people with psittacosis develop an irritating cough. The illness usually runs for 7 to 10 days. Few problems occur provided early treatment is given.

People become infected when they have direct contact with other humans or birds and animals that have the disease. The birds or animals need not look sick to spread the disease. People cleaning out aviaries or areas contaminated with bird faeces need to be particularly careful. Infectionis generally by inhalation of the organism.

keys to prevention?
Exercise personal hygiene always.
Wash hands after handling animals and birds, especially parrots.
Take any sick birds or animals to a veterinarian to allow the illness to be investigated and controls to be put in place.
Controlling dust and wearing dust masks when cleaning aviaries or bird enclosures or when working in other areas contaminated with bird faeces and discharges.

Hope this helps.

Posted By John Lewis
A funny one for Friday. Some years ago we had a massive pigeon problem in a warehouse. I engaged a national company to deal with the problem. Their man was ex army and still active as a weapons instructor in the TA. The plan was to trap the first batch and then shoot the remainder.

Trapping was succesful and the birds were duly taken away in bin bags for proper disposal with transfer notes etc.

On his way out he popped into Reception and asked for me, the conversation with the receptionist went something like; "Is John available? I've got his pigeons and I wondered if he wanted to count them before I go?". "Awwww thats nice, where are you going to release them?". "Release them Love? They're b****y dead!". "AAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWW". There followed a posse of girls from the office after my blood for a few days.

We got the rest on a Saturday when it was quiet.
John