CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, CHICO
POLICY NO. 003
DEPARTMENT: Environmental Management, Health and Safety
SUBJECT: Pigeon Feces Cleaning Procedures
EFFECTIVE DATE: 10/23/01
SUPERCEDES:
PURPOSE: To prevent exposure of histoplasmosis and other diseases from contact with pigeon feces.
GUIDELINES:
Safety Precautions:
1. Employees will wear protective clothing: impermeable gloves (rubber, latex) coveralls (disposable), and rubber boots.
2. Employees will wear respiratory protection (disposable dust respirator).
3. Air supply fans for the building will be shut down, if in close proximity to the contamination. The crew supervisor will coordinate the shut down, in advance, with the Boiler/Chiller Plant supervisor.
4. No dry sweeping. The feces shall be sprayed with a bleach or antimicrobial/fungal solution. The bleach solution or hypochlorous solution should be ten percent or higher industrial strength, and the antimicrobial solution should be used according to the manufacturer’s specifications. (Moisten the pigeon feces with a Hudson-type sprayer, but do not allow solution to run off.)
5. An antimicrobial/fungal solution shall be sprayed on the clean surfaces to kill any remaining fungus and bacteria. (Moisten the pigeon feces, but do not allow solution to run off.)
6. All shovels, trash cans, or other equipment used shall be cleaned and washed with bleached water or antimicrobial/fungal solution before they are stored. The protective outer clothing and dust mask will be used while cleaning the equipment.
7. The latex/rubber gloves and rubber boots used shall also be cleaned and washed with bleached water or antimicrobial/fungal solution.
8. All disposable outer clothing will be disposed in sealed plastic bags. The mask will also be disposed in this bag. Bags shall be sealed and disposed of in an outdoor trash bin.
Cleaning Procedures:
1. A minimum of two persons shall clean any significant build-up of feces. One person may clean alone if the feces are on exterior walkways.
2. There shall be no dry sweeping of feces. The feces shall be sprayed repeatedly with bleached water or antimicrobial/fungal solution so that it remains moist.
3. The spraying of feces shall be done in such a manner that feces residues will not spread over the floors, roof, or down the exterior walls of the building.
4. Feces, other bird waste, and eggs shall be disposed in plastic bags. Once sealed, the bags shall be disposed in an outdoor trash bin.
5. One person shall shovel the feces, other bird waste, and eggs into a plastic bag, which has been place din and tied around a suitable trash can or the corresponding metal stand. The other person will spray the feces with bleached water or antimicrobial/fungal solution between shovel loads, to maintain the feces moist.
6. The persons doing the job shall not walk in and out of the areas being cleaned while dressed in the protective clothing and rubber boots. The protective clothing will be removed, and the rubber boots will be washed in the same area after it is cleaned.
7. One person will assist the other when removing the protective clothing. The disposable dust mask must be removed after all the protective clothing has been placed in the bags.
8. The trash can or metal stand used to hold the plastic bags will also be washed in the same area after it is cleaned.
9. Do not allow bleach solution or antimicrobial/fungal solution to enter a storm drain.
APPROVED DEPT. HEAD
APPROVED VICE PRESIDENT
FOR BUSINESS AND FINANCE