Outdoor workers in Ontario need to be more careful and must protect themselves as blacklegged ticks that transmit Lyme disease are being discovered in more areas throughout the province.
Employers
- Know your obligations as an employer
- Determine if there is a risk of tick bites for each outdoor worker.
- Take precautions according to the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
- Protect the health and safety of each worker by educating and supervising workers according to the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
- Provide personal protective clothing.
- Report to the Ministry of Labour if a worker has developed Lyme disease.
For more details, visit the Ontario Ministry of Labour.
Employees
- Know your rights as an employee
- Protect your body by wearing light-coloured clothing with long sleeve shirts and pants, socks and closed footwear. If possible wear a hat.
- Apply insect (tick) repellent that contains 20 to 30% “DEET” to your exposed skin and outer clothing.
- If possible, avoid areas that are overly bushy or that have long grass.
- After working outdoors, immediately complete a total body inspection for ticks followed by a shower.
- Inspect all equipment or gear for ticks.
- Put personal protective clothing in the dryer on high heat for one hour to kill any ticks.
- When handling dead animals always wear protective gloves.
- Report any ticks to your employer.
For more details, visit the Ontario Ministry of Labour.