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OPERATION
9. All operations must be approved by the Health Inspector.
10. Two Rodent Operatives should work together whenever convenient.
11. The person in charge of the premises roust be notified of the operation details.
12. An accurate record must be made of all poison bait laid, e.g., type, number of points and
quantity and each point clearly marked on the site.
13. Poison Notices shall be displayed on the premises from the start to the finish of all opera-
.
tions.
PRECAUTIONS
(to be strictly observed)
14. No operation shall be carried out in premises into which the public or domestic animals or
birds have free access.
15. No poison baits to be laid in precarious positions where spillage is liable to occur.
16. Protective gloves must be worn by the Operative who handles the poison and dead rats.
17. Premises must be secured by the person in charge until unexpended poison and dead rats
have been recovered.
18. Any accidental contamination must be reported to the Health Inspector as soon as possible.
19. Gloves and hands must invariably be washed after handling "1080" or dead rats.
FINAL PROCEDURE
20. Every detail of poison shall be collected and returned to its container except on an open
site, when solid bait shall be buried.
21. Dead rodents must be recovered and burnt.
22. The person in charge of premises must be notified on completion of the operation and Poison
Notices withdrawn.
23. All contaminated equipment except the interior of the poison container shall be steeped in
repeated rinsings of fresh water before returning it to the carrier.
REPORTS
24. An accurate Report shall be rendered by the Rodent Operative in charge of the Operation and
submitted to the Health Inspector before dispatch to the Central Office.
Since the introduction of "1080" into the Port of London in 1951, the number of ships treated
with "1080" for the purpose of the issue of International Deratting Certificates has steadily
risen and in 1955, 119 ships were granted deratting certificates after using "1080" as compared
with 28 by hydrogen cyanide, while the figures for 1956 are 121 after using "1080" as against 28
using hydrogen cyanide, and even here it must be borne in mind that hydrogen cyanide may have
been used primarily for cockroach or other insect eradication. There is no doubt whatever that
"1080"has been warmly welcomed by shipowners and is now a firmly established practice in the
Port of London.
Although "1080" is described as highly toxic, it is known that scientists have taken "1080"
themselves and survived. It would appear that it takes 30 times as much "1080" to kill a man as
is needed to kill a rat — in fact he would have to takes a wineglassful. It would have to be gross
carelessness for a human to take enough "1080" to kill himself. The greater danger probably
arises from homicidal or suicidal intent.
Finally your Medical Officer would point out that there is, in the opinion of those who are
experienced in its use, no effective substitute for "1080" as a rodenticide and notwithstanding
its disadvantages, there is no poison to compare with it for the rapid eradication of heavy and
persistent rat infestations. Although other poisons may be less toxic, they also have their disadvantages.
For instance, your Medical Officer has observed that some of the critics of "1080"
favour the use of bacterial rodenticides and he thinks he should inform your Worshipful Committee
that an authorative contribution to the "Lancet" for 5th May, 1956, by the Medical Director,
Salmonella Research Laboratory at Colindale, draws attention to human infections, particularly
in children, that have occurred through the use of bacterial rodenticides. The doctor
recommends that the use of bacterial rodenticides containing certain types of bacteria (and
these are, in fact, bacterial rodenticides in popular use) should be discontinued.
PREVENTION OF DAMAGE BY PESTS (APPLICATION TO SHIPPING) (AMENDMENT)
ORDER, 1956
Since 1951 the Port Health Authority has been issuing Rodent Control Certificates to coastwise
shipping as provided for by the terms of the Prevention of Damage by Pests (Application
Skipping) Order, 1951, and, in conformity with the Order, no charge has been made for such
certificates.
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