The Guild of British Molecatchers
Committed to traditional molecatching skills and welfare of the mole.
The advice in this page is given to help our members remain safe whilst carrying out their work. This advice must not be construed as being complete, there may be other health and safety issues you need to consider in your daily work. Remember - your safety is your responsibility. We repeat, you are responsible for your own health and safety and should never put yourself or others in a position of danger. We advise you to take care of your personal safety during the course of your work.
Personal Equipment
Always wear appropriate clothing, including footwear, for the terrain and weather conditions you are or may be required to work in. Remember that old boots or shoes may lack the grip necessary for working in and around water or on steep inclines. The weather can be unpredictable so ensure that you have suitable clothing for all weather conditions. In the winter months it is advisable to carry a torch, spare batteries, a whistle and a phone when working in remote locations.
Access
Before commencing work you must obtain permission from the relevant land owner. Remember the person requesting your services may not be the land owner and you may need to clarify this before commencing your work or accessing the site.
Contact
If possible avoid lone working in remote areas. It is recognised that some mole catching contracts will demand that the molecatcher works alone in isolated areas from time to time; in these circumstances special care should be taken.
Never go into remote areas without informing a responsible person of where you are going (a six figure grid reference is particularly advised) and when you expect to return. Leave a written contingency plan to be acted upon if you do not return when expected. Your contingency plan should include information on how you intend to travel to, and access, your location, who to contact if you do not return when expected and your vehicle details and registration. It should also include your planned “escape route” should you need, for whatever reason, to abandon your work area. Always carry a fully charged mobile telephone with you. Be aware however that mobile phones may not work in some remote areas and it is advisable to have located the nearest public telephone box or nearest inhabited house to your working location.
Weather
Be aware that hazards may increase in rain, strong winds and thunderstorms. If bad weather is encountered do not commence your work or cease if already started. Working in heavy rain and strong winds or thunderstorms is not advised.
Assessing your location
For all mole work you should consider any particular hazards that are associated with the site or location. Identify potential hazards before you commence your work. Assess your individual circumstances and any medical conditions in relation to the potential hazards you may encounter on your site before choosing to undertake work. Carry out a basic risk assessment and continue to refer to your risk assessment and make appropriate changes as necessary or dictated by the location and changes made at that location.
Livestock
Care should be taken when entering areas with livestock, particularly cattle, rams and horses. Do not enter fields containing bulls and be especially careful around cows with young calves as they can be very protective of their young. Rutting deer can also be aggressive in the autumn. If you experience any problems around livestock remove yourself from the situation.
Farm machinery
Farm machinery should not be touched at any point. Avoid mole work in close proximity to operating agricultural machinery. Respect the daily working life of the countryside, be courteous to farm workers and cautious of machinery.
Terrain
Take extra care when working alongside areas such as watercourses, cliff edges, areas of boggy ground, close to reed beds and loose rocks. Wear appropriate footwear. Working close to water can be hazardous; especially if near steep gradients adjoining water. Where possible in these circumstances, work in pairs. If working along roadsides, wear bright coloured clothing and if walking on the road ensure that you walk facing oncoming traffic. Take particular care on blind bends.
Human confrontation
If you have concerns about your personal safety at any point then cease your work and remove yourself from the situation. Carry some identification to confirm your identity and the work you're involved in. Consider the privacy of others, particularly when working in and around residential areas. Remember some people may have views that are opposed to your type of work.
Diseases
To reduce the risk of spreading disease, ensure footwear and outdoor clothing is cleaned before and after your field work. Follow any bio security measures present on the land you may be working on for example, using disinfectant mats at gates etc.
It is possible to become exposed to disease during mole work. Handling of faecal material from wild small mammals presents no danger of disease provided that reasonable precautions are taken to minimise any possible risks. Take particular care with some simple precautions at sites where brown rats may be common as there may be a risk of Weil’s disease.
Wash your hands after collecting traps and after extricating any caught animal, this is particularly important before eating, drinking or smoking. Cuts or abrasions on the hands should be covered by sticking plasters.
If you feel unwell at any time after carrying out works then consult your doctor immediately and explain the type of work you have been involved in including the types of the mammal species you have come into contact with.
The following diseases can have severe effects and in rare cases cause death.
Tetanus
Tetanus is caused by the bacterium Clostridium Tetani, a common microorganism found in soil. The infection of minor wounds and scratches can result in tetanus. All skin wounds should be covered before work is commenced or continued. Your anti-tetanus treatment should be kept up-to-date. Always wash your hands after completing work and before eating, drinking or smoking. It may be advisable to carry wash facilities in your vehicle.
Leptospirosis (Weil’s disease)
The infection is transmitted by contact with infected animal urine (mainly from rodents, cattle or pigs), generally in contaminated water including dew. It enters the body through cuts or scrapes, or the lining of the nose, mouth, throat or eyes. Make sure that all wounds are covered and avoid contact with water that may have been contaminated. Wash hands thoroughly before eating, drinking or smoking.
If you suffer from ‘flu-like symptoms after contact with possibly contaminated water you should contact your doctor immediately and mention Leptospirosis.
Lyme disease
The bacterium that causes Lyme disease is transmitted via ticks infesting various species including deer, sheep and pheasant. When working in or moving through long grass or forested areas with thick undergrowth wear long trousers and long socks. On completion of work in these areas check exposed skin for ticks and if found remove. If you have found a tick on yourself and you then experience ‘flu-like symptoms contact your doctor and explain that you may have been exposed to Lyme disease.
Louping-ill
This disease is caused by Louping ill virus. The virus is closely related to the tick-borne encephalitis virus. Louping-ill is an infection of the central nervous system and is acquired through the bite of an infected tick. There is no specific vaccine available for Louping-ill virus in humans but the tick-borne encephalitis vaccine can be used for people whose occupation puts them at high risk. It is found mainly in sheep but can infect cattle, horses, pigs, dogs, deer and wildlife species; it is a significant disease of grouse and hares in moorland regions of the UK. Louping-ill also very occasionally affects people. In humans it manifests itself initially as ‘flu-like symptoms that, after a short period of remission return as a more severe fever with signs of meningoencephalitis or paralytic poliomyelitis. People who work on the moors (in particular) should be aware of this risk.
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