Rats in work place - 6 months pregnant

[sharon2016]

Hi all,

I am just looking for advice/opinions - as I am not sure if I am being a pregnant over the top hormonal woman!

I work in an office in London, which has had a mice problem for a good year or two, which has now escalated to the point we seeing a couple of mice a day running across the sales floor. There are now 'rumours' around the office that in fact rats have been seen. The mice (and potential rat) is regularly seen in the kitchen. Yesterday there were lots of mice droppings across the kitchen floor. There were also droppings underneath a cupboard that I sit near.

They do have a rodent company come in each week to put out mice (not rat) traps and some poison. I think there are so many mice though its going to be hard to solve. The HR team have also sent a company wide email asking people not to leave food out as 'rodents can cause premature births, miscarriages, etc etc...'.

I am obviously getting really concerned for the health of my baby, and dont want to use any of the water, cutlery out of the kitchen.

Do I have a reason to be concerned? HR have said I will be fine if I wash my hands regularly? I have tried to push but they really arent being very proactive, other than this rodent company coming once a week putting out minimal poison and traps...and they keep telling me that mice are in normal in London office. I have worked in 5 offices in London before, and none have had mice.

I just dont know whether to be REALLY concerned or not..

Thanks x

Every office I've worked in has had a mouse problem in London! I work in central London and we have a mouse issue in my office...didn't occur to me to be more worried because I'm pregnant...

It has to be fresh poo you ingest to do any harm. I think you'll be fine unless you leave your lunch out for some time. And rats tend to be huge you wouldn't miss them.

If it's any help they say where there are nice you won't find rats they don't tend to co-habit. Rat urine is the problem but should be fairly easily controlled with poison and traps. I work in agriculture so we clear traps daily and regularly have 20-30 trapped a day if there is a real problem a rat man once a week won't cut it they need to be done daily. It's your HR departments responsibility to keep you safe

Wipe down your desk and keyboard/mouse every morning.

I certainly would.

If you take to work a packet of crisp or something, make sure you wash your hands before you start eating to be on the safe side.