Rats before wrecking balls…
Canadian officials are considering making rat extermination a demolition pre-requisite.
Faced with an exploding rat population, partially the result of a strike by refuse disposal and collection workers, the officials are believed to be reviewing their policy on pest control.
Read the full story here.
It is ironic that, on this side of the Atlantic, many contractors are now required to build alternative accommodation for bats, voles, and a whole variety of bird species!
Posted: August 11th, 2009 under General, News, People.
Tags: demolition, demolitionnews
Comments
Comment from admin
Time August 11, 2009 at 10:34 am
Thanks for that John. Personally, the thought of rounding up rats has almost put me off my toast and marmalade, but this is a problem that’s going to get worse with milder winters and warmer summers encouraging breeding in the rat population. AMES would make a great addition to our Business Directory service too!
Comment from mick saunders
Time October 26, 2009 at 1:49 pm
thought i might share this with you. There is a job in Limehouse in east london that was stopped 18-24 mth back. I have a friend who has a pub there and he has asked me who is responsible for what is going on there now as there is a very large rat problem,he asked me over one evening to look. I think large is not the word more like a moving blanket would describe what i saw. My point here is this, if who ever the company is who takes that job on to finish i have a few phone numbers of game hunters in Africa as i think that is what will be needed, there are rats there that will give a Bobcat a run for its money. But worse still is where are they going to run when anyone does move on site as i am not talking hundreds here there are thousands there, good luck to whoever takes that job on
Comment from admin
Time October 26, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Thanks for the heads-up Mick but can you be any more specific about the job or location of the building in question?
Comment from mick saunders
Time October 26, 2009 at 7:27 pm
the building in question is behind limehouse road just before it becomes east india dock road and backs on to limehouse cut. The site can be seen from Burdett road looking along the canal by Lidl store. It is situated behind the Star of the East public house. I do know name of last contractor on site and have worked for him before. This i hasten to add is no doing of his but i believe the owner either run out of money and i have been told all the paper work was not in place, it even now has squatters along with the rats. Not sure whats worse regarding that. But if any of your readers are looking at the job be very aware that the Rat problem is severe to extreem. I have never seen it so bad and believe me i have worked on some funny places. The building itself was old storage and factory units, apart from anything else they are in a bad state and whats left of them that is. I did look at them with a George Wright who was going to price the job but he has pulled well away from it now. Again anyone interested be well aware of the site and problems
Comment from Mark Anthony
Time October 27, 2009 at 10:36 am
Thanks for that Mick. I’d really like to issue an alert to subscribers warningt hem about this. Is there any way of getting an address, postcode or set of map references from your friend at the site?
Comment from Nichola Elvy
Time October 27, 2009 at 11:07 am
I have occasionally worked in areas where rats are not unusual to be seen running around. Men working in these areas particularly where there is water must make sure that any open wounds/cuts are well covered with waterproof plasters and that food (packed lunches etc) is stored properly where the rats can’t find it. They should also make sure that if they do become unwell (flu like illness) they tell the healthcare staff looking after them that they have worked near water and rats. Leptospirosis (also known as Weils Disease) is transferred via rats urine. It often goes undiagnosed because it is rare.
Comment from admin
Time October 27, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Thanks for that excellent and informative comment Nichola. As someone who used to do a lot of freshwater fishing, I am extremely aware of the dangers of Weil’s Disease but I think you’re right that it goes largely unreported in industry.
Comment from mick saunders
Time October 27, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Mark, the address for this site is St Annes st and st Annes Row E14. I would like to add that there are one or two fast food places there and it has been used as a dumping ground for food stuff rubbish. Not that i am saying it is them that are to blame or dumping rubbish but it has had many fly tipping events also, but a good idea of yours to warn any potential bidders for that job, if i can i will send some pictures of the site if i can
Comment from john woodward
Time August 11, 2009 at 10:24 am
We really should do the same here as, after all, we demolish their habitat and make them seek alternative homes so we are spreading the problem. I remember doing a job in Wednesbury many years ago when we lifted a manhole lid and around 250 rats legged it across the car park towards the shops on the other side. I was taking pipe playing practice for weeks after to try to round them up.
If you think you have a rat problem contact AMES in Birmingham who will deal with them quicker than you can say Warfarin! They are at http://www.altek-midlands.co.uk (The website is a great source of information as well).