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RISK ASSESSMENT SHOPPING MALL, MAJOR EVENT, SCHOOL AND OTHER REPTILE DEMONSTRATION/S
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(BACK TO SNAKEBUSTERS SITE ENTRY PORTAL)
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Name and
Status of the Assessor: Raymond Hoser,
Director, Snakebusters
Date:
2004-8 |
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Activity
being assessed: Live reptile shows |
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Known or expected hazards associated with the activity: (Generic
to reptiles): 1 - Bites from non-venomous
reptile taxa. 2 – Bites from venomous reptile
taxa (envenomation). 3 – Disease transmission
(bacterial). Secondary risks: Persons falling off stage area
(if used), tripping over objects at ground level. |
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The risk of injury and its severity likely to arise from
these hazards: (Generic to reptile shows (non-snakebusters): 1 - Bites from non-venomous
reptile taxa. Minor puncture wounds only, with
minor potential for infection. 2 – Bites from venomous reptile
taxa (envenomation). Puncture wounds are
insignificant, results can be local, such as swelling or redness as well as general
symptoms such as respiratory failure and death. Occasionally necrosis of tissues may occur as well as internal
bleeding, renal failure and other organ failures. Death or serious permanent injury of handler or patron may lead
to law suits and other severe losses for organizers. Such events have occurred in the past. 3 – Disease transmission
(bacterial). Salmonella is most likely, but
known transmission risk is so rare as to be insignificant, even when dealing
with reptiles known to be infected. (Generic to snakebusters): 1 - Bites from non-venomous
reptile taxa. Minor puncture wounds only, with
minor potential for infection. Likelihood is rare due to the
tractability of reptiles used. 2 – Bites from venomous reptile
taxa (envenomation). This cannot occur. All venomous taxa used have had their
venom glands surgically removed. The
risk of injury from these reptiles is therefore less than for non-venomous
reptiles due to: A/ The fact they
only have two major teeth in the mouth (versus several in other taxa) and
B/ The fact that as a rule, only the
snakebusters handler handles these animals and is skilled and trained in
doing so. Hence “bite risk” becomes
less severe than for non-venomous taxa. Put another way, a bite from
taxa as deadly as Tiger Snakes, Taipans and Death Adders are “zero risk” only
with Snakebusters. 3 – Disease transmission
(bacterial). All reptiles used have regular
fecal exams, including with microscope and are also treated periodically in a
“shotgun” manner with various drugs to eliminate harmful bacteria. Bacterial infections such as Salmonella
are kept absent and/or removed before the subject reptiles are used in shows. Likelihood of injury via bites
is insignificant. Secondary risks:Persons other than demonstrators
and others “invited” on stage are kept off. Entertainment area is kept clear
of other potential hazards in the form of trippable objects and the like. |
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Who is at risk?
Handler of reptiles, including
to a lesser extent all members of the public who are either in contact with
the reptiles or potential contact with them. |
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Measures to be taken to reduce the level of risk: (Snakebusters) All venomous taxa brought to
site have had venom glands surgically removed and hence effectively have no
public safety risk at all. Venomous taxa not generally
given to public and even if they are and/or security is breached, there
remains no risk to any person. Non-venomous taxa (pythons,
lizards, etc) are only used if they are known to be tractable and not
aggressive. Reptiles stored in boxes in
either locked container and/or locked room and away from the public when not
being used. |
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Training prerequisites: Persons trained at snakebusters
facility in all necessary handling protocols and basic first aid. |
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Level of risk remaining: Insignificant in terms of
potential injury or disease infection to a member of the public or handlers. Worst-case scenario remains a
bite, which if occurring would be generally dealt with by merely wiping the
wound site at time of bite. Treatment
of snakebites (non-venomous) is generally not required, although if a member
of the public unused to snakes were to be bitten by a very large snake,
they’d be treated with antiseptic to reassure them. |
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Emergency action: In terms of the event planned (live snake demonstrations and “hands on”
with innocuous), there is no specific emergency plan as no emergency outside
of other “normal” events is possible. Events such as acts of war,
heart attack by member of public, etc, can only be dealt with as and when
they occur and using the facilities available, which in a mall are
coordinated by center management, who have direct access to phone lines and
the like. Snakebusters staff all have
their own mobile phones for use in an emergency. Staff familiarize themselves
with key contacts, their phone numbers, emergency exits, toilets and the like
prior to commencement of the event. |
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Animal Welfare Issues and means to deal with them: 1 - Disease transmission to animals via external parasites (mites): This is by far the number one health issue for the traveling reptiles. All reptiles are shipped in boxes or containers with minimal
ventilation in at least one level, with all sprayed with “Top of descent”
Aircraft spray, known to kill the relevant vectors, at the end of each day’s
showing and to remain in cases for at least 60 minutes after the spraying. This is necessary due to the very real and likely potential of members
of the public spreading these parasites on their hands to the reptiles when
handling them. 2 – Stress from handling. As a rule, this does not occur.
If members of the public are seen mishandling reptiles, they are
either corrected or stopped. In
practice, reptiles inflict more pain and stress on one another than even the
most inexperienced handlers (excluding “normal” venomous snake handling
methods). In the unlikely event a reptile is seen in a state of stress from over
handling or any other reason, then it’d be retired from showing until either
it recovered or the end of the day’s session, whatever came first. 3 – Stress from hooking, heading, necking and tailing venomous snakes. These methods are known to be extremely cruel to snakes and result in
snakes becoming intractable, highly strung and wanting to bite when handled,
due to a fear of the pain likely to be inflicted when handled and past
experiences of this. This is the
unfortunate reality of non-snakebusters shows, using so-called “hot” snakes. As a result of the above cruelty and a need to avoid this, at
snakebusters shows, all venomous snake taxa at these events are “free
handled” by all persons, which means by supporting the body weight properly,
either by hand, or hanging over the neck, without need to hold by the genital
region (tail end) or strangling and restricting the head in any way. This can be done “risk free” for the
handler due to the fact that snakes have had venom glands surgically removed.
(For method see papers, Hoser (2005), or Hoser (2003)). This method of handling is also always
used on the same reptiles for the day-to-day management including shipping to
and from the venue/s, moving from container to container (and/or cages) and
when the reptiles are being fed and cleaned and medicated if need be. |
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References (Similar events only) Malls: Centro Malls (Box Hill,
Brandon Park, Heidelberg (X 2), Keilor Downs, Cranbourne, Gateway/Langwarrin,
Ringwood, Mornington, Frankston East/Karringal (X 2)) Wodonga, 12 sets of
shows. Werribee Plaza (Pacific),
Stockland Pines, Greensborough Plaza, Parkmore and Chirnside Park (all GPT)
and Savills Endeavour Hills Plaza and others. Major and minor events: Refer to
Snakebusters website for listings. Agricultural Shows: Refer to
Snakebusters website for listings. Schools, Kinders, Libraries,
Holiday Programs: Refer to Snakebusters website for listings. Children’s Parties, Corporate
events, promotions, media: Refer to Snakebusters website for listings. Snakebusters website – relevant
links at: http://www.snakebusters.net |
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Signature
of Assessor: SIGNED – RAYMOND HOSER – DIRECTOR
SNAKEBUSTERS
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Revision
date: As above |