Home | Health & safety policy

These rules and guidelines apply to both studio and live event work and are designed to provide optimum safety and welfare for the client, handlers and animals, and should be respected at all times. 

During live events the animals are not to be handled by anyone other than the Tabitha animal handling team. Touching the snakes is permitted but limited and at the discretion of the handler.

Zoonotic Diseases: Snakes, like all reptiles may carry salmonella. The strain they carry is of very low risk to humans and may only be shed sporadically, if at all. Therefore good hygiene must be practiced at all times and anyone who touches the animals should wash their hands immediately afterwards. Clients and guests touch the animals at their own risk and the Tabitha coordinator (Grace Dickinson) may not be held responsible for any disease contracted by the client or guest. 

All the animals are tame and accustomed to being handled and around crowds of people, cameras and ‘live event’ situations. The animal handlers are fully trained animal specialists and are able to monitor their charges behavioural and emotional states. If the animal becomes stressed or a situation is seen to be potentially dangerous for handler, animal or client, the handler reserves the right to terminate the contract and remove the animal from the premises. 

Snakes are animals with individual personalities and preferences, just like humans. Therefore their behaviour cannot always be 100% predictable. There is no fixed time lapse before a snake becomes tired or stressed, therefore the snake will be given opportunity to rest as deemed necessary by it’s handler, who has been trained to read the relevant behavioural signals. Usually, the animals do not require a rest within the first hour of working. Rest periods of 15 to 30 minutes are often sufficient, though subject to change depending on the individual animal and environmental factors. Rest stops and periods are at the discretion of the handler and for the safety and welfare of all concerned will not be compromised. 

In the very unlikely event of snake bite, the Tabitha coordinator is first aid trained, and carries a first aid kit. The snakes are all non-venomous but infection caused by bacteria in the mouth is likely. Wounds should be washed and cleaned thoroughly and covered with a sterile dressing. The wounded party should then visit their GP in case antibiotics or tetanus injection is required. The Tabitha coordinator is covered by Equity 3rd party public liability insurance. 

It is advised that the client displays a copy of the health and safety guidelines on the premises or displays their own r.e. health and hygiene and hand washing.

Insurance

we are fully covered with liability insurance up to five million pounds. Please click here to view our insurance certificate (warning large file). Any questions please contact us.