L ET’ S TA LK S A FE TY This column addresses safety issues of interest to water and wastewater personnel, and will appear monthly in the magazine. The Journal is also interested in receiving any articles on the subject of safety that it can share with readers in the “Spotlight on Safety” column.
Don’t Get Bit or Stung: Safety Instructions for Insects Insects can be more than annoying; bites and stings can be carriers of disease or cause allergic reactions that, when severe, can often be deadly. Every workplace needs to be protected from such occurrences. As a good employer, you want to protect your workers from diseases spread from insect bites and stings, as well as complications that can arise as a result of allergies, bacteria, viruses, and parasites. With this in mind, you need to take the right precautions and measures to protect your employees from insects.
Mosquitoes Mosquitoes may carry West Nile virus, which can cause very severe flu-like symptoms and even death from a fatal brain infection. The mosquitoes carrying West Nile are around in the summer, particularly August and September, and feed on humans, horses, and birds. We’ve known about the virus only since 1999. The mosquitoes can contaminate multiple victims, but West Nile can’t be transferred from human to human. Most people who are bitten don’t even know they have been and never develop symptoms, but some can get very ill, and some die every year. To prevent a proliferation of mosquitoes, don’t leave standing water around work areas for
them to breed in. Turn empty flowerpots, buckets, and other containers upside down and don’t let water accumulate in old tires or tanks. If there is a birdbath, change the water at least once a week, and stock fish in a pond or water fountain to eat the mosquitoes and their larvae. Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants outside, especially at dawn and dusk, which is when mosquitoes are feeding. Use a sunscreen with diethyltoluamide (also known as DEET), which provides the best deterrence to these pests. The West Nile virus is particularly dangerous for older workers and those who are immunocompromised. They should use a repellant with 10 percent DEET or less. The repellant also works to keep away spiders and other insects. A chemical called Permethrin, found in some repellants, is good for clothing, shoes, etc., and it retains its effectiveness through many washings. Other chemical products you can use for protection, and their active ingredients and minutes of protection, are shown in the sidebar.
Bees and Spiders Bees and spiders can be encountered anytime, and their stings or bites usually cause only itching, redness, and maybe swelling at the
bite or sting site, but sometimes these encounters can be serious. The victim may have a severe allergic reaction, or the bite may be poisonous. For bee stings and spider bites: SM ake sure you and the victim are safe from further contact with the pests. If the victim is allergic to insect bites or stings, or shows signs of an allergic reaction, summon medical help by calling 911. S I f stung by a bee, look for the stinger. Scrape away the stinger and venom sac with something with a dull edge, like a credit card or ice scraper. Don’t touch it with your hands. Squeezing the attached venom sac can make things worse. S Wash the bite or sting area with running water and soap, if available, or with waterless hand cleaner. S Use ice wrapped in a towel, if available, to reduce swelling. S Benadryl® or calamine lotion can help with itching. Don’t scratch. S Watch the victim for at least 30 minutes for signs of a severe allergic reaction. Signs of a bad allergic reaction are: ST rouble breathing S S welling of the tongue and face or hands SF ainting
Let’s Talk Safety is available from AWWA; visit www.awwa.org or call 800.926.7337. Get 40 percent off the list price or 10 percent off the member price by using promo code SAFETY20. The code is good for the Let’s Talk Safety book, dual disc set, and book + CD set.
22 May 2022 • Florida Water Resources Journal
