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#1 Posted : 22 October 2009 11:13:00(UTC)
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Posted By Paul Beardall
Could anyone help please, I have been asked to prepare a risk assessment and safe system of work for the removal of road kill, not only the smaller rodent / wildlife variety but including emergency removal of deer, farm animals, even horses from highways and byways across construction sites.
Sometimes as part of emergency response by traffic management teams to reopen roads to traffic.
Any assistance or guidence would be gratefully received.

Paul
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#2 Posted : 22 October 2009 11:24:00(UTC)
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Posted By Ian Blenkharn
No particular biological hazards to concern yourself with. Standard precautions apply - impervious gloves or gauntlets, standard workwear, some facility for handwashing or use large handwipes (baby wipes ) and then a commercial hand sanitizer or rub.
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#3 Posted : 22 October 2009 11:35:00(UTC)
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Posted By Descarte
I dont know if a generic assessment can cover the variety of issues you may encounter.

In addition to general and species specific zoonosis other concerns may be manual handling, lifting operations, working adjacent to highways / traffic and maybe even use of cutting tools.

Some people get all the interesting jobs,

Des
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#4 Posted : 22 October 2009 11:37:00(UTC)
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Posted By John Packer
Do remember the other risks as well preventing the spread of disease and infection. Things you might want to consider; Is it dead or just unconscious? (I certainly wouldn't want to wake up a badger!). Manual handling and appropriate lifting equipment and the risks associated with those (how do you get a lifting strop under a dead horse)?
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#5 Posted : 22 October 2009 14:16:00(UTC)
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Posted By steve e ashton
Perhaps the best quote off this forum for years. LOL. "I certainly wouldn't want to wake up a badger"

I have to wake her up every morning, but its my fault for marrying her...

Sorry, I'll get me coat...

Steve.
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#6 Posted : 23 October 2009 13:02:00(UTC)
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Posted By Phil Rose
As it's Friday.

Steve, I hope that your wife doesn't read the forum! If so - sofa for you!

AS it happens though, a few months ago our crews were tasked with clearing a road kill. Anyway, when they got there they identified the, rather 'mangled' (and clearly dead) animal as a very large black cat the kind of which has allegedly roamed around these parts for years. Before you know it, every man and his dog (no pun intended) is involved, Police, DEFRA etc etc. This cloven hoofed 'cat' was pretty quickly identified as a muntjac deer! All good fun!
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#7 Posted : 23 October 2009 13:07:00(UTC)
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Posted By martinw
Paul
as someone who in the past has had to clear the highway of small to medium animals, do not forget that even on site(ie not on the main roads) drivers get blase and do not expect people to be in a road where they were not the day before. Lighting - headlamps? - and hi-viz is required especially with the winter darkness approaching. If you have a flashing beacon on your vehicle that helps too.
Martin
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#8 Posted : 23 October 2009 13:35:00(UTC)
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Posted By Mark Eden
Paul
Please forgive me, but it is Friday - follow this link to find a use for roadkill.
http://www.independent.c...ed-squirrels-785121.html
I have no idea how it may taste
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#9 Posted : 23 October 2009 14:11:00(UTC)
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Posted By Phil Rose
I seem to recall that eating squirrels has been implicated in the occurrence of VCJD in the southern USA where squirrel is apparently hunted for grub!

Wonder what the tufty club will make of this?
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#10 Posted : 23 October 2009 14:20:00(UTC)
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Posted By Nicholas Sutcliffe
The removal of deer, farm animals, even horse on a construction site!! do these sites not have speed limits?
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#11 Posted : 23 October 2009 14:42:00(UTC)
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Posted By Raymond Rapp
Don't forget to include the road and surrounding environment eg dual carriage way etc as part of your assessment, otherwise it will not just be rodents getting killed!

Ray
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#12 Posted : 23 October 2009 15:13:00(UTC)
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Posted By water67.
Hi almost hit a dear (missed it by around 5M) a few weeks ago on road from Oban to inverary. Had to clean up..but nothing to do with the dear!!!!

Cheers. happy Friday
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#13 Posted : 23 October 2009 15:26:00(UTC)
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Posted By martinw
Spot on Ray - I was nearly clipped by a car when pulling a flattened muntjac off a straight but unlit country road. I was wearing hi-viz, standing in headlight beams, from the police car I had just got out of, which had its blue light flashing, and still nearly got run over. Guess some people really do not like the police?
PS no longer in that role, as picking up roadkill is clearly too dangerous...
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#14 Posted : 23 October 2009 16:27:00(UTC)
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Posted By Chloe Graham
I am loving this thread it's has made me laugh on a really boring Friday afternoon. Although i do appreciate the seriousness of the question and advice given.

Just out of interest what numbers of dead horses end up on a highway each year? I am a city girl and work in an office so forgive my ignorance ;).

And i agree the badger quote to be the best i've seen on here for a while.

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#15 Posted : 23 October 2009 17:15:00(UTC)
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Posted By peter gotch
Check out http://roadkill.edutel.com/rkdataarchive.html

for some of the species they manage to decimate in the States.

p
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#16 Posted : 23 October 2009 17:17:00(UTC)
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Posted By Andrew Kurdziel
Ok let's be serious.
At my place of work we deal with animals like this all the time. I have even woken up next to a badger!
Not a good place.
Things to note: How long will you be on the highway. Removing a gerbil is a 10 second job removing a horse cow or wild boar will take longer, so you may have to cone it off. Any thing in between is down to a dynamic risk assessment (ie. common sense).
Make sure the animal is dead before you try to move it. If it s alive but injured you will need to contact the police (if on the highway) or a vet if on private land to shoot it (I mean gently euthanise it).
Zoonoses should not be a problem as long as you apply good hygiene measures.
Then there’s manual handling etc.
And then you have to dispose of the carcasse.
Have fun
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#17 Posted : 23 October 2009 18:06:00(UTC)
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Posted By martinw
Woke up next to a badger? Must have had a skinful.....:-)
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#18 Posted : 23 October 2009 18:28:00(UTC)
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Posted By Steve M Granger
Not a good subject before the Friday fry up.....

I rescue badger, fox deer and other wildlife and have experience of the above, both personally and as a LA bod responsible for the crew that are duty bound to do this.

It is a big subject area and not one to treat lightly, scuse the pun.

Disease, poisons, bacteria, sharps, bites, claws, insects (fleas and ticks), vehicles ST&F, MH (extremely high risk for a number of factors), vehicles - more of them, stress, inclement weather, etc

Couple this with PPE that is generally increases risk, poor visibility, vulnerability and sensitivity and its a complex assessment you need to do.

I have some ideas - email for a contact number if you want more help. Or try someone more cleverer than wot I is - like the RSPCA (who might be along in a minute.....) 'calling KO, Calling KO....'

International Rescue Steve
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