GROUNDSKEEPING SAFETY. Dealing with. Bugs & Critters

Transcription

1 GROUNDSKEEPING SAFETY Dealing with Bugs & Critters

2 GROUNDSKEEPING SAFETY Dealing with Bugs & Critters This employee handbook is one of a series of fully-illustrated employee handbooks, informative posters, broadcast-quality video training programs and interactive CD-ROM courses produced by Coastal Training Technologies Corporation. Each product is the result of painstaking analysis, design, development and production by the instructional designers and technical specialists on our staff. Our catalog is constantly being revised and expanded, so we would appreciate any comments on current titles or suggestions for future ones. For further information on any Coastal product, or to receive a free catalog, call Coastal Training Technologies Corp. (Virginia Beach, VA) at or send a FAX to This handbook is for educational purposes only, and is designed to be used in conjunction with a qualified trainer. Nothing herein is to be regarded as indicating approval or disapproval of any specific practice or product. Copyright 1999 Coastal Training Technologies Corp. All Rights Reserved. No part of this handbook may be copied by any means or for any reason without the written permission of Coastal Training Technologies Corporation. Printed in U.S.A.

3 CONTENTS Introduction ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~2 Checklist for Protecting Yourself ~~~~~~~~3 Biting, Buzzing, Stinging Insects ~~~~~~~~~4 Creeping, Crawling, Venomous Critters ~~~~7 Rodents & Hantaviruses ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~8 Basic First Aid for Stings & Bites ~~~~~~~~9 Summary ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~14 Quiz ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~15

4 INTRODUCTION If you re involved in groundskeeping or facilities maintenance, your job routinely takes you outdoors. And that means exposure to pests flying, creeping, crawling critters that can bite, sting and cause serious harm. The first step in avoiding these hazards is to ask yourself: Do I want to be safe or sorry? It s your choice. In this handbook, you ll find out how to choose safety by learning how to recognize and avoid potentially dangerous critters. You will also learn about personal protective equipment (PPE) that can protect you. And you ll learn basic first aid to use if you re bitten or stung on the job. 2

5 CHECKLIST FOR PROTECTING YOURSELF Prevention is the best defense. When you know you might meet insects or snakes on the job, there are some things you can do: Wear a hat to protect your head. Wear heavy duty gloves to protect your hands. Wear leather boots. Expose as little skin as possible. Wear a one-piece suit if necessary. Wear light-colored long pants and long-sleeved shirts. Tuck pant legs into boots and shirts into pants. Check any clothing you wear in the field before you put it on. Spray clothing with an insect repellent containing DEET. Don t wear strong smelling cologne or perfume. Keep your hands and feet out of areas you can t see into. Do an all-over body check when you get home. 3

6 BITING, BUZZING, STINGING INSECTS Mosquitoes Everyone knows how annoying mosquitoes can be. But some can do more than annoy you. They can infect you with serious diseases such as Encephalitis, a viral infection of the brain that can kill you. Apply mosquito repellent every two to three hours. Wear light-colored clothing. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark clothing. Bees, Wasps, Yellow Jackets and African Honey Bees Stings kill more people each year than all other venomous animals combined. Yellow jackets can sting repeatedly. Honey bees have barbed stingers that remain in your skin. African honey bees can threaten your life. Even if you re not sensitive to bee toxin, multiple stings can cause Anaphylactic Shock, a life-threatening allergic reaction. Look out for swarms. It may mean a hive is nearby. Bee hives and yellow jacket nests are found in hollow trees, culverts and hanging from tree limbs. Keep food and drinks in your vehicle. Bees are attracted to sweet smells. Loud noise, engine vibration and waving your arms can provoke an attack. If attacked, cover your face and run to the nearest shelter or vehicle. Notify a co-worker immediately or call

7 Fire Ants When fire ant colonies are disturbed, they swarm over the victim and inflict as many as 5,000 stings in a few seconds. But just because they re small doesn t means they re not dangerous. Fire ant venom is toxic and can cause a life-threatening medical emergency. Fire ants live under buildings, in mounds, in fields and in ditches. They also nest in utility boxes, causing power outages and fires. EXTERMINATOR Make sure you check electrical boxes regularly. Keep piles of dirt away from buildings. If nests are found, call an exterminator. Do not attempt to remove them yourself. Ticks There are many diseases you can get from ticks. The most common are Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Ticks that carry Lyme Disease have been found on deer, mice, black bears, opossums, raccoons, skunks, woodchucks, gray squirrels and red foxes. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever occurs across the country, but most often on the Atlantic seaboard and in southeast and south-central states. A bacteria carried by deer ticks causes Lyme Disease. Lyme Disease can cause crippling nervous system and joint problems. Years after exposure, you can suffer from heart abnormalities and other symptoms. Left untreated, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever can cause flu-like symptoms, mental confusions, gangrene even death. 5

8 Spiders The black widow spider has venom that is 15 times more poisonous than rattlesnake venom. The brown recluse spider bite can damage body tissues. Watch for signs of spiders when working under houses and in dark basements or attics. Wear heavy-duty gloves when moving piles of brush or wood. If you notice a tingling feeling, sudden nausea or stomach pain, you may have been bitten by a spider. Seek medical help immediately. Caterpillars Some varieties of the furry little creatures that appear in the spring can be life-threatening. Hidden in their coat are short, hollow spines loaded with poison. When they touch you, the spines break and poison flows into your skin. Stay on the lookout for caterpillars. Most poisonings result from accidental contact. If necessary, spray infested vegetation with EPA-approved insecticide. 6

9 CREEPING, CRAWLING, VENOMOUS CRITTERS Pit vipers, including rattlesnakes, copperheads and cottonmouths, are the most common poisonous snakes. The second most common are coral snakes. Rattlesnakes and copperheads have arrow-shaped heads and cat-like eyes. Rattlesnakes have horny buttons called rattles at the end of their tails. Copperheads have light and dark bands that wrap around their bodies. Cottonmouths have hourglass markings and a mouth, when opened, as white as cotton. Coral snakes have red, white or yellow and black bands around their bodies. Leave snakes alone. Most people are bitten trying to kill them or to get a better look. Watch out for snakes under houses, piles of wood or stone and in tall grass. Don t pick up rocks or brush before turning them over with a stick. 7

10 RODENTS & HANTAVIRUSES If you open up cabins and sheds closed during the winter, or clean outbuildings for farm and construction equipment, you could be exposed to Hantaviruses. Construction and utility workers could be exposed if they work in crawl spaces under houses or in vacant buildings that might have a rodent infestation. Hantaviruses cause Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome and Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome. Both can kill you. When fresh rodent urine, droppings, saliva or nesting material is kicked up or swept, you can breathe in the virus. To prevent exposure in rodent infested areas, wear latex or vinyl gloves and a half-face air purifying respirator equipped with HEPA filters. Drench rodent urine, droppings and nesting materials with a disinfectant solution of 1:10 bleach to water mix. Once completely wet, contaminated materials can be picked up with a damp towel. When debris is cleared, mop or sponge down the area with the disinfectant solution. Spray dead rodents with disinfectant and double-bag with debris, according to local or state health department recommendations. Disinfect gloves before you remove them. Wash hands with soap and warm water immediately. If you develop a fever, deep muscle aches and severe shortness of breath after working around rodents, see a doctor immediately. 8

11 BASIC FIRST AID FOR STINGS & BITES Under OSHA s General Duty Clause, your employer provides training so you ll be aware of hazards that cause illness, serious injury even death. But it s your responsibility to work safely. And that means knowing basic first aid for stings and bites. Mosquitoes Within three days of exposure to mosquitoes, watch for signs of Encephalitis such as headache, fever, nausea and vomiting. If you suspect a problem, see a doctor immediately. Bees and Wasps If you re stung by a bee or wasp, ask a co-worker to observe your reactions. Call 911 immediately if you have symptoms of Anaphylactic Shock. Remove bee stingers right away by scraping horizontally with a knife or fingernail. Never squeeze the stinger or you can inject venom into the skin. Wash the area with soap and water to avoid infection. Ice packs, over-the-counter steroid creams, sting kill swabs, antihistamine ointments or tablets taken orally can decrease swelling and pain. If you re allergic to stings, wear a medic-alert bracelet. Multiple stings can cause allergic reactions. Once you ve had an allergic reaction, you re more likely to have them in the future. Always carry an emergency self-treatment kit. If you re stung, it can reduce symptoms until you can get to a hospital. 9

12 Fire Ants For a non-allergic person bitten a few times by fire ants, the stings can cause severe burning pain and blisters. If you re bitten by an army of fire ants, ask a co-worker to observe your symptoms. Victims who are allergic to fire ant toxin can suffer Anaphylactic Shock. If you experience difficulty breathing and/or swallowing, call 911 immediately. Ticks Check your body for ticks after working in wooded areas. If you find a tick on your body, remove it with a pair of fine-tipped tweezers. Don t use your hands. Don t twist the tick's body. Pull the tick straight out or the head can break off. Don t use a lit match or hot pin to remove a tick. By breathing the smoke, you can absorb bacteria or viruses. Clean the area immediately with soap and water or alcohol. See a doctor immediately if you suspect a problem. Without early treatment, you can experience chronic fatigue, arthritis and heart abnormalities. Ask your employer about getting a Lyme Disease vaccine. 10

13 Be alert for symptoms of Lyme Disease such as: Red rash resembling a bull s eye Unusual fatigue Arthritis-type pain. Symptoms of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever include: Flu-like fever and chills Severe headache Aching muscles Unproductive cough Loss of appetite Fatigue Abdominal pain Sensitivity to light. If you suspect a problem, see a doctor immediately. 11

14 Spiders If you re bitten by a spider, you may not feel it right away. The only sign may be two tiny red dots and a swollen area. If you re bitten by a black widow spider, your stomach muscles may become rigid. Abdominal pain and cramps can last up to 48 hours. A spider bite can be life-threatening. If you experience higher blood pressure, convulsions or Anaphylactic Shock, get help immediately. Caterpillars Contact with a poisonous caterpillar will cause immediate burning pain, local numbness and swelling. Try to remove all imbedded hairs by applying adhesive tape to pull them from your skin. Wash the area with soap and water. If you experience nausea, vomiting, high fever and difficulty breathing, you have signs of Anaphylactic Shock. Get help immediately. 12

15 Snakes If a snake bite contains venom, swelling occurs within ten minutes. Fingers and toes become numb and you may notice a metallic taste in your mouth. You may also feel sleepy and have difficulty swallowing or forming words. Avoid running, try not to panic. Use a belt or a rope as a constricting device to minimize the flow of poison. Do not raise the wound. Keep the area lower than your heart. Do not attempt to remove the venom with your mouth. Bacteria in your mouth can cause infection. A snake bite should always be considered a medical emergency. Get to a hospital as quickly as possible. If you wait too long before treatment, it increases the odds of long-term problems. EMERGENCY ROOM 13

16 SUMMARY Remember: As you approach every task that includes groundskeeping or facilities maintenance, ask yourself the question, Do I want to be safe or sorry? When you work outdoors, you re sure to meet all kinds of bugs and critters. To keep yourself safe, learn to recognize the dangerous ones in your area so you can avoid them. And learn basic first aid in case you re bitten or stung. That s all it takes to choose to be safe. 14

17 QUIZ 1. True False Mosquitoes can infect you with potentially deadly diseases. 2. True False To protect yourself from mosquitoes, wear dark colored clothing. 3. True False If you re allergic to bee toxin, multiple stings can cause Anaphylactic Shock, a life-threatening reaction. 4. True False If fire ant nests are found, remove them immediately. 5. True False Lyme Disease can cause heart abnormalities and other symptoms that show up years after exposure to an infected tick. DETACH HERE 6. True False Black widow spiders are usually found in dark basements, attics and under houses. 7. True False You can identify a copperhead by red, white or yellow and black bands around their bodies. 8. True False To keep yourself safe from snake bites, leave snakes alone. 9. True False If you open up cabins and sheds closed during the winter, or clean outbuildings for farm and construction equipment, you could be exposed to Hantaviruses. 10. True False To prevent exposure in rodent-infested areas, spray the area with insecticide before working. 11. True False If you experience signs of Anaphylactic Shock after a bee or wasp sting, call 911 immediately. 12. True False Remove bee stingers immediately by squeezing the stinger with your fingernails. 13. True False If you re not allergic to bee stings, it is not necessary to carry an emergency self-treatment kit for stings. 14. True False If you find a tick on your body, use a lit match to kill it before removing it. Otherwise the head may remain in your skin. 15

18 15. True False Symptoms of Lyme Disease include a red rash resembling a bull s eye, unusual fatigue and arthritislike pain. 16. True False Symptoms of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever include fever, chills, headache, aching muscles and sensitivity to light. 17. True False If you re bitten by a spider, you will experience immediate burning pain, local numbness and swelling. 18. True False If you touch a poisonous caterpillar, remove all imbedded hairs by applying adhesive tape to pull them from your skin. 19. True False If you re bitten by a poisonous snake and you do not experience swelling or numbness, it is not necessary to seek medical treatment. 20. True False If you are bitten by a snake and wait too long before treatment, it increases the odds of long-term consequences. DETACH HERE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF TRAINING I have read and understand the training handbook, Groundskeeping Safety: Dealing with Bugs and Critters. I have also completed and passed the comprehensive quiz at the conclusion of this handbook. Employee s Signature Trainer s Name Date Date 16 NOTE: This record may be included in the employee s personnel or training file.

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