Safety first with the new third edition of Bat Workers'
Manual
The second edition of the Bat Workers' Manual was
produced in 1999 and has been one of JNCC's best selling
publications. It provided detailed information on all aspects of
bats and was an essential reference manual for anyone wishing to
obtain a licence to carry out bat work in the UK.
The third edition has been produced only five years after the last
edition because of the tragic death of a batworker in Scotland from
European Bat Lyssavirus (EBLV) infection at the end of 2002.This
signalled a fundamental change in the way organisations and
individuals approach bat work.This accident, together with two
records of EBLV in Daubenton's bats in England, means that it must
now be assumed that the virus is present in bats in the UK and that
bat-handling practices, and health and safety advice, must
change.This third edition of the manual incorporates these changes
and includes recommendations on the handling of bats, vaccinations
against EBLV and a list of contact details for finding up-to-date
advice on the subject.The opportunity was also taken to update
information on legislation and other advice.
The appearance of the manual has changed substantially, to
reflect the necessary fact that it replaces the second edition. The
excellent drawings by Tom McOwat have almost all been retained,
with some updated diagrams where necessary to reflect the changes
in health and safety practices, but the cover has a completely new
look and a number of beautiful photographs of bats by Frank
Greenaway have been added to make the manual more
user-friendly.
In order to ensure that the new health and safety information
is available to everyone who needs it, JNCC is providing the third
edition free of charge to all those who return their second
edition.
The third edition of the
Bat Workers'
Manual (Editors A.J. Mitchell-Jones and A. McLeish) is now
available through NHBS, price £20.00, or £10.00 to licensed bat
workers. Anyone with a second edition can receive a third edition
free of charge by returning their second edition to NHBS Ltd, 2-3
Wills Road,Totnes, Devon,TQ9 5XN. Please include your name and
address with your return.
Contact file:
Dr Jessamy Battersby
Tel: +44 (0)1733 866808
Email: