August 2013 2013 PLANET Editor s note: PASS ON EACH ISSUE OF THIS NEWSLETTER TO EVERYONE WITH SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES AT YOUR COMPANY. Avoiding Snakes and Spiders Note: This is the second newsletter in a three-part series on avoiding insect and wildlife hazards and on first aid steps to take if you or someone else is stung or bitten while at work. Last month s newsletter covered stinging insects and scorpions, and next month s installment will contain information on ticks and mosquitoes. Key Points Contact with stinging or biting animals or insects is the third most frequent cause of injuries for employees of PLANET member companies, with 187 events occurring in the past year. Sixty-eight of those incidents required medical treatment a significant cost for companies. Venomous snakes workers might encounter are rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths, and coral snakes. Venomous spiders in the United States include black widows, brown recluses, and hobo spiders. Between 7,000 and 8,000 people are bitten by snakes in the United States annually and about five of those people die. If people did not seek medical care, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cautions, the number of deaths would be much higher. According to a study published in the journal of Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, 6.6 people die each year from spider bites. In contrast to public perception, most snakes and spiders are not aggressive and bite only to defend themselves. If employees know how to identify and avoid venomous snakes and spiders, the chances they will be bitten are greatly reduced. Employers and Supervisors Checklist Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local health and safety standards. While federal OSHA does not have a regulation relating to wildlife and insects in particular, its General Duty Clause requires employers to provide employees with a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm. Employers can be cited for violating the General Duty Clause if they do not take reasonable steps to prevent or abate a recognized hazard. Protect workers from snake and spider bites by training them to do the following: o Recognize their risk of exposure o Identify venomous snakes and spiders o Avoid snakes and spiders whenever possible and prevent bites o Take appropriate action if they or a co-worker is bitten. Employee Precautions Snakes Know which venomous snakes live in your area and how to identify them. Rattlesnakes
Various species of rattlesnakes can be found across the United States. Identify these snakes by the rattles on their tails since coloring and pattern differ by species (see photos below). July 2011 Photos courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1 & 2) and Edward J. Wozniak (3) Know that rattlesnakes often sun themselves near logs, boulders, and in open areas. Be aware rattlesnakes use their rattles as a warning when they feel threatened. Copperheads Copperheads live in the Eastern United States, extending as far west as Texas. Identify copperheads by their reddish to golden tan color and the hourglass-shaped bands on their bodies (photos below). Most adults are 18 to 36 inches long. Photos courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1 & 2) and Edward J. Wozniak of CDC (3) Be aware copperheads are often found in forests, rocky areas, swamps, or near water sources. Know that while most rattlesnakes and cottonmouths give warnings such as vibrating their tails and sitting with mouth open (cottonmouth) when they are approached, the copperhead is more likely to strike out immediately. Cottonmouths/Water Moccasins Cottonmouths thrive in the Southeast. Identify these adult snakes, which are typically 50 to 55 inches long, by their dark tan, brown, or nearly black skin with vague black or dark brown crossbands. Juveniles have a bold crossbanded pattern of brown or orange and a yellow tail. (See photos below.) Photos courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1 & 2) and Edward J. Wozniak (3) 2
Be aware cottonmouths are usually found in or around water (wetlands, rivers, lakes). Know that when threatened, the cottonmouth coils up and opens its mouth, displaying its fangs and the white interior that gave it its name. Coral Snakes Coral snakes live in the Southern United States. July 2011 Identify these snakes by the arrangement of their red, yellow, and black bands. If the red bands 2011 touch PLANET the yellow bands, it is a coral snake. These snakes are often confused with nonvenomous king snakes, which have similarly colored bands in a different order. A common saying to help you remember this difference is Red on black, friend of Jack. Red on yellow will kill a fellow. Photos courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1) and Edward J. Wozniak (2) Be aware coral snakes like wooded, sandy, or marshy areas and often hide in leaf piles or burrow into the ground. To prevent snake bites: -Know that if given the opportunity, snakes will avoid humans. They escape down holes, under ledges, or into water. But, if escape is not possible, most snakes hold their ground and defend themselves. -Stay away from tall grass and piles of leaves when possible. -Avoid climbing on rocks or piles of wood. -Wear leather gloves when handling brush and debris, and watch where you place your hands and feet. Try not to place your fingers under debris you are moving. -If you see a snake, step back and allow it to proceed. Do not try to capture or kill the snake. -Wear long pants and boots at least 10 inches high. -Know that a snake s striking distance is about half the total length of its body. -Do not try to handle any snake. If you or a co-worker is bitten: -Seek medical attention as soon as possible (dial 911 or take the person to a hospital right away). -Note the snake s color, pattern, and the shape of its head. -Inform a supervisor. -Keep bite victims still and calm. This will slow the spread of venom if the snake is poisonous. -Do not cut the wound or attempt to suck out the venom. -Try to keep bite positioned at a level that s below the heart and cover it with a clean, dry dressing. -Do not apply ice or immerse the wound in water. Spiders Know which venomous spiders live in your area and how to identify them. Black Widows Black widows are found throughout the United States but are most common in the South and West. Identify these spiders by the pattern of red coloration on the underside of their abdomen (see photos). 3
July 2011 Photos courtesy of Ohio State University and University of Missouri Be aware black widows are usually found in undisturbed areas such as woodpiles, under eaves and fences, and in other areas where debris has accumulated. They also live in outdoor toilets where flies are plentiful. Know these spiders build webs between objects, and bites usually occur when people contact these webs. Brown Recluses Brown recluses are most commonly found in the Midwest and South. Identify this spider by its brown color and the characteristic violin-shaped marking on its head. It has six eyes (most spiders have eight). Photos courtesy of Ohio State University and Texas A&M Be aware brown recluses are usually found in secluded, dry, sheltered areas such as underneath structures, logs, or in piles of rocks or leaves. Know the brown recluse can t bite humans without some form of counter pressure (unintentional contact that traps the spider against the skin, for example). Hobo Spiders The hobo spider is found throughout the Pacific Northwest. Identify this large, brown spider by the distinct pattern of yellow markings on its abdomen (photos below). Unlike similar-looking spiders, hobo spiders do not have dark bands on their legs. 4
July 2011 Photos courtesy of Washington State University Be aware hobo spiders are likely to be found near retaining walls and in foundations, window wells, and stacks of firewood and bricks. Know hobo spiders do not climb like most spiders, but are fast runners. They are likely to attack if provoked or threatened. To prevent spider bites: -Inspect or shake out clothing, shoes, towels, and equipment before use. -Wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, a hat, gloves, and boots, especially when handling stacked or undisturbed piles of materials. -Minimize empty space between stacked materials. -Remove or reduce debris and rubble in work areas. -Trim tall grass from job sites as soon as possible. -Store apparel and personal protective equipment in tightly closed plastic bags. If you or a co-worker is bitten by a spider: -Stay calm and identify the type of spider if it is possible to do so safely. -Seek medical attention as soon as possible (dial 911 or take the person to a hospital right away). -Notify a supervisor. -Wash the bite area with soap and water. -Wet a cloth with cold water or fill it with ice and apply to the bite area to reduce swelling. -Elevate the bite area. Prepared by Olivia Grider for: Professional Landcare Network 950 Herndon Parkway, Suite 450 Herndon, VA 20170 (800) 395-2522 Fax (703) 736-9668 LandcareNetwork.org 5