Reference: HSA/145636/GRG/001
Following a full review of the Department for Treats & Snacks Incident Report (Ref: DTS/GRG/001), I have now completed a Health & Safety assessment of the incident involving two seagulls, a squirrel, a duck and a discarded Greggs bag.
Discarded food packaging presents numerous hazards, particularly given the huge number of small mammals, insects and arachnids currently congregating to protest on Platform 6. These risks include (but are not limited to):
• entrapment and possible suffocation
• choking
• cuts and other injuries
• ingestion of harmful materials (for example, had the aforementioned Greggs bag contained bread, the duck could also now be experiencing digestive discomfort as well as an overwhelming sense of euphoria at having cheated death).
In conclusion, while I respectfully advise the duck against entering discarded food packaging with quite such enthusiasm in future, it is my opinion that the principal hazard was the discarded bag itself.
Accordingly, I respectfully remind human subjects that Transport for Wales has kindly provided multiple waste and recycling bins throughout Chester Station. A clean station is a safe station.
Anita Butler, Senior Risk Assessment Officer (Ant No. 14,351)
Department for Health & Safety (Ant Division)