On 5 May this year, several children in Toftøy kindergarten in Øygarden came into contact with rat poison when they played in a forest by the kindergarten. The rat poison came from a feeding station from the company Rentokil.
Using a stick, they pry rat poison out of the box.
The kindergarten and the pest control company are now receiving strong criticism in an inspection report carried out by the Environmental Health Service in Bergen municipality. TV 2 has been given access to the current report.
It was BA who first mentioned the case.
Thought it was putty
– The children thought it was model putty, and they had married in their hands and played with it, says daily camper in Toftøy kindergarten, Olaug Rong, to TV 2.
The employees quickly discovered what had happened, and had the children washed and changed their clothes before the parents were informed. The children were still in the emergency room, but had no injuries.
– HAD TO GO TO THE EMPLOYEE: Three or four children at Toftøy kindergarten in Øygarden had to go to the emergency room for a check-up after the incident. Photo: Toftøy kindergarten
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– We are very grateful for that, says Rong.
Both the kindergarten and Rentokil have corrected deviations and routines after the incident. The inspection report states that the pest control company violated FHI’s guidelines.
– The rules are clear and unambiguous, but in this case they were not followed, says leader of the Health Protection Unit in Bergen municipality, Tore-André Gram-Knutsen, to TV 2.
Follow FHI it is not allowed to have bait available for children.
Only in a few cases has the municipality discovered rat poison in outdoor areas for kindergartens before.
– Very stupid
– This is very unfortunate. There has been a system failure with us, and this is our fault, says technical manager at Rentokil, Arne Nese.
During his 30 years as technical manager at Rentokil, Nese has never experienced anything like this.
– It is very stupid when such things happen, and I am glad that no children were injured.
– NON-FREE BOXES: The only boxes left are without poison. Photo: Bergen municipality
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The pest control company has agreements with 65 kindergartens all over the country. Now they have removed attestations from all kindergartens, also from attics and other places where it is actually impossible for children to get to.
– In that way, we have eliminated the chance that the unthinkable will happen again.
Instead, they have used alternative solutions, such as rat traps. Boxes that remain do not contain poison, and are used for non-toxic control.
sorry
Olaug Rong is relieved that no one was injured after the incident, and is clear that this will never happen again.
– This should not have happened from either ours or Rentokil’s side.
She’s sorry about what happened.
– It has been a great strain for the parents and us. I want to apologize for what has happened, and we take full responsibility. The most important thing for us is that the children are safe, says Rong.
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