Outdoor Worker Safety

• MDH: ticks website (including informative powerpoint slides)
• University of Minnesota: ticks website
• How to Remove a Tick: CDC description; and a concise video demonstration
• If you find an embedded tick then let your supervisor know.  After the tick is removed we want to observe the site for the next couple weeks to ensure that there is no infection.

Outdoor workers are at risk of being stung by flying insects (bees, wasps, and hornets) and bitten by non-venemous and venomous spiders. While most stings cause only mild discomfort, some may result in severe allergic reactions that require immediate medical care and may cause death.

If an employee is stung by a stinging insect:

• Remove the stinger using gauze wiped over the area or by scraping a fingernail over the area.
• Never squeeze the stinger or use tweezers.
• Wash the site with soap and water.
• Apply ice to reduce swelling.
• Seek medical attention and report work-related injuries to Employee Health at University Health Services.

Sting and bite prevention:

• Avoid colognes, perfumes, perfumed soaps, and strongly-scented shampoos and deodorants.
• Wear clothing to cover as much of the body as possible.
• Remain calm and still if a single stinging insect is flying around. (Swatting may cause it to sting.
• If attacked by several stinging insects, run to get away.
• Workers with a history of severe allergic reactions to insect bites or stings should carry an epinephrine auto-injector, wear medical ID jewelry stating their allergy, inform coworkers, and show coworkers how to use the epi pen.

The College’s procedure for response to bites from domestic and wild animals is designed to provide timely medical follow-up and notification to the appropriate local health department officials so that the animal can be captured and tested for rabies if necessary.  Animal bites can result in infections, including tetanus and rabies.  Rabies occurs most often in wildlife, particularly raccoons, bats, skunks, groundhogs, and foxes.

How to Prepare:

• Do not feed or otherwise provide care to wild animals, including feral cats, which may be living on campus.
• Report all wild animals to Public Safety at 507-786-3666.
• There should be a screen in every dormitory room and stairwell window that can be opened.  This prevents animals from entering buildings.  If a screen is missing or not properly installed and the room will be occupied, call Facilities at 507-786-3280.

If you are bitten or scratched by a wild animal:

• Call Public Safety immediately at 507-786-3666.
• Clean the wound with soap and water.
• Seek medical attention, if necessary.

If you encounter a bat or believe you have sustained an exposure:

• Avoid direct contact with the bat and call Public Safety at507-786-3666.
• Do not try to capture or kill the bat.
• Do not release a bat found in a building until it has been confirmed through Public Safety that no exposure has occurred.

An encounter with a bat could include:

• Awakening to find a bat in the room.
• Witnessing a bat in the room with a previously unattended small child, mentally disabled, or intoxicated person.
• A bite (any penetration of the skin by teeth), or saliva or brain/spinal cord tissue introduced into mucous membranes (eyes, mouth), an open wound, abrasion or scratch in the skin from a bat.

• Wild Parsnip
  • Minn DNR page (a brief intro and ID)
  • Midwest Invasive Species Network (a more detailed description, including similar species)
  • WARNING – Avoid skin contact with the toxic sap of the plant tissue by wearing gloves, long sleeves, and long pants.  The juice of wild parsnip in contact with skin in the presence of sunlight can cause a rash and blistering and discoloration of the skin (phytophotodermatitis).
• Poison Ivy (p. 42)
  • WARNING – Use protective clothing, rubber gloves and long sleeves, contact with the sap (urushiol) from broken plant parts can cause blistering (dermatitis), even during the winter months.
  • WARNING – Smoke from burning poison ivy can deliver urushiol to airways and lungs.  Do not compost as resprouting can occur and urushiol may persist in compost.
  • Urushiol can stay on pets, tools, toys and other objects for long periods, and can be effectively transferred and cause irritation at a later date.

• Minnesota Noxious Weeds (includes native look-alikes for comparison)