Imzadi . on mon 24 jun 02
The Health Inspector did show up last week. Yes, it was the one bitten by the
rottweiller. On his way to my home, he had such a massive Firestone tire
blowout, it should be documented for "60 Minutes". What a stretch of bad
luck he's been having.
Anyway: I cleaned up as per everyone's suggestions, stacked instead of piled,
labeled, put my clay bags in plastic tubs.
The Health Inspector didn't even notice the wheel. At the end of the meeting,
I had to bring the wheel up and having clay around to ASK him if as the
termite people were snidely suggesting, "Was it keeping the rats around? Does
he need to take one more look inside?" I'd rather he do it than my landlady
call another inspector of her own, siting it may be a potential source.
The Health Inspector made such a face of ridiculousness and didn't even
bother going back inside to give their claims the slightest validity.
Only relevant new info he mentioned that people might want to know about is
that he said (the opposite of the termite people) that it was a good thing I
was NOT daily cleaning up the kitchen where the rats were hanging out, until
he had informed me of how to do it properly. I would have been dangerously
exposing myself up to the 67 different viruses or diseases, (as per the
Discovery Channel TV) rats can be carriers of.
The rat particles, easily airborne, can be so minute, that even wearing a
NIOSH respirator made to filter out glaze/clay dust particles is not strong
enough. He suggeted a mask with a HEPA filter that filters down to 10
microns. (Anthrax, by comparison, is between 1-5 microns.)
He said do NOT use a vacuum -- even one with a HEPA filter. The exhaust
blower from the vacuum would kick up particles WHILE vacuuming.
He suggested to clean up feces and counter areas where the rats have
definitely been, instead of taking a damp sponge and wiping across the
counter (which might kick up particles) to: INSTEAD soak paper towels with a
strong disinfectant (such as Lysol). Lay the wet paper towels over the
counter. When the rat dust particles are saturated wet, then wipe with the
towels, wearing gloves.
He said upon finding dead rats to saturate them down thoroughly with dog flea
spray to kill any fleas still on the rat. He said the fleas are even more
dangerous that the airborne rat particles.
Beyond that he suggested what was already covered in Candise's post: Re: Rats
- All Joking Aside candise@FINEARTSCULPTURE.COM
Being from San Diego, she has the same CA Health code info. :-)
I have since been moving all my pots back home and back to throwing mode.
Thanks again for all the suggestions, support, pics sent etc.!
Let's let this thread rest in peace (like I hope the rats will soon be.)
Imzadi
Carl Finch on mon 24 jun 02
Wow! That was a pretty scary piece of information (from the Health
Inspector). I've been fortunate never to have a rat problem, but I'm sure
going to save your message for the future--just in case! Thanks for coming
back with this info--and for bearing up so well under some of the
less-than-helpful "advice" you got!
--Carl
At 03:14 AM 6/24/02 -0400, you wrote:
>The Health Inspector did show up last week.
[...]
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