Tick safety this season

Staying in Touch: Jacquelyn Oduro

Spring weather allows our industry to start its work in full, but it also welcomes ticks.  Heavy construction work often happens next to or in wooded or grassy areas, where ticks are found. Here are some key points for a tick safety:

• Ticks are commonly found in wooded or grassy areas, as well as in gardens, forests and parks.
• Encourage workers to wear long sleeves, long pants and closed-toe shoes when venturing into tick-prone areas. Tucking pants into socks and wearing light-colored clothing is encouraged.
• Apply insect repellent containing DEET or permethrin to skin and clothing can help repel ticks.
• After spending time outdoors, check yourself and others for ticks, especially the scalp, behind the ears, under the arms and around the waist and groin.
• Take care in removing ticks from your skin. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible and pull upward with steady, even pressure. Avoid twisting or jerking. Then clean the area with soap and water or antiseptic.
• Know the symptoms of tick-borne illnesses: fever, headache, fatigue, and rash. If someone develops symptoms after a tick bite, they should seek medical attention promptly. They can carry diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, etc.
• Where possible keep grass mowed short and create a barrier between wooded areas and your work area.

For more on tick safety, see the Government of Canada’s tick awareness page here.