Posted By GaryC40
I'm with you on on this Clairel - the comparison given to the Wishaw outbreak of ecoli is just a tad out of context here. There is a huge difference to the 'over sanitised argument' and what happened with Barrs the butcher / local authority fiasco at wishaw. (cant recall pets being an issue either)

Realistically in general, its probably not appropriate to start taking pets to work, however i suppose it depends on the workplace conditions. As Ive said before if there is no significant risk and conditions and employer policy allows, then why not?

GC

Posted By David Passmore
OK -I think this thread has run its course. My comments on Wishaw was in response to the seemingly relaxed attitude to hygiene by some contributors to this thread - I was merely highlighting the implications of such a cavalier attitude - particularly where food is concerned and the catastrophic consequences of ignoring such a potential threat to health or indeed life.

Back to the topic - let me use this scenario -

Imagine I am a Director of a company providing food grade products to a large supermarket chain. My company will be audited (ISO, BRC etc) on my standard of hygiene in my premises. I will also have stringent audits from my customer (supermarket).

I am looking for a company to launder my employees overalls etc and I decide to give the company which May Warley works for a try and I arrange a meeting with the CEO of that company with the intention of considering his business to service my laundry requirements.

I enter his office and notice a dog sitting in the corner - not a good start. How can he convince me of his hygiene standards with a mutt lounging in the office? Although the original posting stated it was the Production Manager introduced the dog to the workplace, this is even more worrying as he will potentially have more direct contact with the laundry.

I would not compromise my business by offering this company the contract.

I suspect many of the people on this post have never worked in an environment where hygiene in a food grade production area is critical to achieve the stringent requirements of supermarkets for example.

I have made my point and I still stand by my belief that a dog should not be brought into the workplace and despite references to French and Swiss being more relaxed with such an attitude, as I posted earlier, we have hygiene regulations and I believe better standards here in the UK than mainland Europe - despite supposedly being unified.

DP

Posted By May Warley
Hi David, thanks a lot for your comment.

I don't have a pet, if I ever plan to have one, it will definitely be a cute little dog but I don't plan to bring it to work.

Somehow, in certain respects, pets and work don't go hand in hand and I suppose this is one of the examples.

And I would like also like to thank all for your inputs/feedbacks.

Thanks
May

Posted By Garry Mcglaid
I only counted 5,

Dogs breaking wind,

That alone should ban them from the workplace

Posted By David Passmore
May

Seems you opened a can of worms!!!(oh crikey -not from the dogs I hope), but I am sure you can sift the valid arguments from the sarcastic and unhelpful contributors.

My postings are based on requirements and experience of hygiene audit requirements within a food grade production environment and the risk of contamination from other areas within the building.

Of course, if an office that contains a mangy mutt is a Portakabin within the confines of a scrap yard for example, that would obviously be different in respect of potential contamination of food/packaging etc.

Anyway, before I go 'barking' mad as I 'doggedly' make my 'point'er', I will discontinue my postings in case I get 'hounded' off this thread. I will 'retriever' my thoughts and promise not to lose my 'distemper'.

DP

Posted By Richard Altoft
Finally a recognition that context is important in establishing risk from dogs. My dog is always with me in the office but never out at a clients and every morning my ducks tap on the door for their elevenses (I have an office in my own grounds). My son takes his dog to work and to most of his clients premises and his boss rides his horse to work. Some of their staff also have dogs and horses at work but then again they are all vets or vet nurses and work in a equine hospital.
Context is everything in establishing risk.
R