Could we refuse to return to the office, with a pest infestation

HurdyGurdy

Elsien - They are not unsubstantiated tales - our manager, who was in the office yesterday afternoon, has messaged the team and said "the mice are getting worse". But you're right, maybe we're jumping the gun a bit, as it's not yet known when they will want us back in the office.

TELLIT01 - ironically, this IS a council office

Marcon - really - you actually "stalked" me to find out what I'd previously posted? what on earth for. Yes, I *do* "have a bit of a thing" about mice. They are disease carrying vermin!

motorguy - of course Rentokil are going to emphasise the risk of having rodents, but they're not fabricating them. Rentokil was the first site I looked at, but the same risks are mentioned on other sites. I posted that in response to Takeaway_Addict's question if they were unsafe. 

missile

My office was infested with rats, they had two legs

Undervalued

HurdyGurdy said:

Elsien - They are not unsubstantiated tales - our manager, who was in the office yesterday afternoon, has messaged the team and said "the mice are getting worse". But you're right, maybe we're jumping the gun a bit, as it's not yet known when they will want us back in the office.

TELLIT01 - ironically, this IS a council office

Marcon - really - you actually "stalked" me to find out what I'd previously posted? what on earth for. Yes, I *do* "have a bit of a thing" about mice. They are disease carrying vermin!

motorguy - of course Rentokil are going to emphasise the risk of having rodents, but they're not fabricating them. Rentokil was the first site I looked at, but the same risks are mentioned on other sites. I posted that in response to Takeaway_Addict's question if they were unsafe. 

Come on, get real!

You posted on a public forum which has a function allowing any user to easily call up any other user's posts. If you don't like it don't post.

74jax

HurdyGurdy said:

Elsien - They are not unsubstantiated tales - our manager, who was in the office yesterday afternoon, has messaged the team and said "the mice are getting worse". But you're right, maybe we're jumping the gun a bit, as it's not yet known when they will want us back in the office.

TELLIT01 - ironically, this IS a council office

Marcon - really - you actually "stalked" me to find out what I'd previously posted? what on earth for. Yes, I *do* "have a bit of a thing" about mice. They are disease carrying vermin!

motorguy - of course Rentokil are going to emphasise the risk of having rodents, but they're not fabricating them. Rentokil was the first site I looked at, but the same risks are mentioned on other sites. I posted that in response to Takeaway_Addict's question if they were unsafe. 

I often look up previous posts, that is what the function is there for?
It helps add background to posts. 
'what on earth for' you ask, exactly that, to find out more. It's really not uncommon. 

superbigal

I suggest an office cat could well be the solution. I have never checked the OPs history to see if they like cats or not.

Apintplease

Come live in the country, you soon get used to rats or mice,

Its actually rare to have rats AND mice together

I can be stood in work and see the odd rat run about the yard - we are surrounded by shucks, when it rains, they flood, the rats run. We dont have a problem in the factory - pest control come out monthly and we keep the place spotless

I work in food production, no way can we have rodents in the factory, but they are rife outside. We dont even leave as much as a spud peeling in the factory after a shift

If you are working in an office environment then you all have to take responsibility , not just leave it to management. No food left lying around in bags, on shelves, or in cupboards that isn't in a sealed container, No eating at desks. Ensuring that once you have eaten you clear where you have eaten of crumbs

As I say, I work in food production in a glorified tin shed in the middle of a field in the middle of the country and we dont have a problem because we know how to keep our work place clean. Remove the food source , the rodents will pack bags

Thrugelmir

The issue has probably been caused by someone leaving food (i.e. chocolate) in their desk drawer. 

Savvy_Sue

Thrugelmir said:

The issue has probably been caused by someone leaving food (i.e. chocolate) in their desk drawer. 

Chocolate, oat cakes, breakfast bars ...

We've had the pest controller in today. Apparently rats will attack and finish one chocolate bar, mice will attack everything they can get to and take little nibbles. 

We have one cupboard with a fair bit of food stored (fresh fruit, chocolate bars, crisps) and the advice is to get as much as possible into closed plastic boxes (currently in open crates) and get what has to stay 'open' (bananas ...) as high up the shelves as possible. The pest controller fears if we ever got mice in THAT cupboard we'd really struggle to get rid ...

juraj.kecso

Hi,

Under Section 44 of ERA you can refuse to come to work if you reasonably believe that there is a serious and imminent danger to you. Vermin infestation, as serious as you describe it, may well be considered a danger. However, before you take any action, I'd suggest that you raise this problem with the person responsible for H&S within your company or if you have a trade union, speak to them.


You cannot be put in detriment for raising H&S issues, meaning you cannot get sacked.

AskAsk

Thrugelmir said:

The issue has probably been caused by someone leaving food (i.e. chocolate) in their desk drawer. 

i used to have biscuits and crisps in my drawer and fruit in my in-tray at work and i never saw any mice!