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#1 Posted : 16 July 2009 11:37:00(UTC)
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Posted By fastfingerfirst
Does anyone else report midge/mosquito/horsefly bites as incidents within their organisation??

If so, are they deemed near misses, or injury accidents?
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#2 Posted : 16 July 2009 12:11:00(UTC)
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Posted By David Gault
We report insect bites as incidents rather than accidents. The reason for reporting them is simply that if it becomes obvious that we have an infestation of some kind (e.g. fleas) we can do something about it and get rid of them. In one case we had recently one of our employees suffered an allergic reaction to the bite (some sort of fly)and that resulted in us discovering that some boxes we had been given by a supplier were hosting more such critters. The information allowed us to zap them before anyone else got bitten and begin investigating the source - no findings yet. In short, accurate reporting of such instances helps you keep track of things from an Occ Health perspective. If you have information you can work with it - if you don't you can't.
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#3 Posted : 16 July 2009 12:45:00(UTC)
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Posted By Clare Gabriel
no No NO!!! This is something that cannot be avoided surely! I currently have a CLAIM for an employee who was stung by a bee sitting outside in our smoking area. We also have a river running past our site that has a lot of mozzies and people do get bitten but have NEVER reported it. I await the responses telling me as we have weeds with flowers on the railway embankment next to our factory I should have carried out a risk assessment as if there are flowers there are bees and of course the potential to be stung.

Will farmers or anyone working outside get any work done if they had to report every horsefly/mosquito bite they or their employees received?

If you have employees who suffer anaphylactic shock you should be aware of that if biting insects are a known risk then you need to have measures in place - first aiders aware but unless you want a full time job please dont go reporting them
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#4 Posted : 16 July 2009 13:08:00(UTC)
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Posted By Mike DF
In an office / warehouse environment I would not consider it reportable unless an adverse reaction was experienced. Then it would be limited to a first aid report.

Different environments such as food preparation might need reporting but that is not my area of expertise
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#5 Posted : 16 July 2009 13:28:00(UTC)
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Posted By Dave Merchant
Unless you're a pest controller, zoo keeper or researcher and are paid to handle venomous/infectious insects; being bitten, stung or licked by one is __absolutely nothing to do with work__ and shouldn't go anywhere near RIDDOR or the accident book.

Next we'll be seeing near miss reports because someone thought they maybe saw a wasp.
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#6 Posted : 16 July 2009 13:50:00(UTC)
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Posted By philip john
Claire,

I take it the person in question is taking a civil claim out against the company.

If so please keep us informed of the outcome.

If a nest was in the works area and the company was aware of this then a claim is possible but a wasp sting having a smoke I will be surprised if a judge awards compensation for this and if he does a wasps nest will be disturbed!!!

No pun intended.

Regards

Phil
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#7 Posted : 16 July 2009 14:06:00(UTC)
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Posted By Phil Rose
I don't think that 'no, no, no' is the correct. We operate a pest control service and as Dave has said that would seem entirely reasonable to report it. And in fairness if someone came to me and asked for me to complete an accident form about an insect bite/sting then I would. I can honestly say that in the last 10 years or so I may have recorded 2 or 3 cases. It's like saying would I report a paper cut. Most people wouldn't even come to me to report it, they would just 'whack' a plaster on it, but if they wanted it reporting in the book, who am I to refuse? In my experience, most of our staff do not seek to report 'trivial' injuries,nor would I encourage them to do so, but I would not refuse to record it if that is what they wanted.
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#8 Posted : 16 July 2009 14:37:00(UTC)
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Posted By Dave Wilson
I think that the major influence here is 'In the course of your work' are we really talking about being stung by a bee / wasp or flea bites as being the same as suffering zoonoses from handling / coming into contact with infected animals / carcases etc and developing infectious diseases.

Not in a million years.

This may be a useful 'info' gathering tool but RIDDOR reportable? Most definitely not!

Put it in perspective people.
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#9 Posted : 16 July 2009 14:52:00(UTC)
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Posted By Phil Rose
Dave

I never personally mentioned RIDDIOR, but I have to challenge the 'definitely not' comment. We have a pest control team, that among other things deals with wasps nests. If one of our 'chaps' does a visit and for whatever reason, gets stung multiple times and subsequently has more than 3 days off (or unable to do his normal duties) are you suggesting that wouldn't be reportable?
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#10 Posted : 16 July 2009 15:02:00(UTC)
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Posted By Peter F.
Is this an accident or an incident. Is being stung as a result or inconnection with his work. Ok a gardener desturbs a wasp nest maybe. A person sitting at the desk, or working on a production line no. If I caught a cold and asked would that be putin the book?

The thing is in connection with your work or an accident at work.

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#11 Posted : 16 July 2009 15:15:00(UTC)
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Posted By Ali
I think the telling factor is if the insect bite was in connection with work eg our company is a landlord to some 25,000 houses - some of which are in run down areas. If an employee called to effect a repair and was bitten, with a subsequent reaction resulting in over 3 d absence, then yes I would have a legal duty to report. Otherwise it would be at my discretion depending on the circumstances.
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#12 Posted : 16 July 2009 15:26:00(UTC)
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Posted By Dave Wilson
Phil,

I agree in your case, but as an EHO who used to run Pest Control teams this is your 'work', getting stung sitting beside a wasps nest outside having a fag, totally different.

If you work in an industry where you habitually come across this type of incident then you may want to record that, but not in any other industry.

Anaphalactic shock from bee sting in an office- unlucky!
Anaphalactic shock from bee sting in a pest control company - Agree

I can just see Jeff McGowans face now!
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#13 Posted : 16 July 2009 15:42:00(UTC)
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Posted By Phil Rose
No probs, just wanted people in general to understand that there are certain circumstances where it would be reportable.
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#14 Posted : 16 July 2009 15:45:00(UTC)
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Posted By tdunbar
Surely a bee or any other native creatures's sting or bite is not an accident. The little bugger meant to do it so it was intentional. It is therefore an assault. If someone walked into your workplace and stuck a pin in your arm who would you sue? Your employer or the offender? If a bee stuck its "pin" in your arm would you sue your employer?
Reminds me of two guys out on a shooting trip in the jungle and one had to relieve himself. As he had finished and was zipping himself up a snake bit him on the willy. He rushed back to his mate and told him what happened. His mate made him lie down and relax and he would call a doctor. Having to scale a tree to get a signal he rang the doc and explained the situation and described the snake to him. The doctor told him it was a very dangerous one to get back straight away and suck the poison out. He asked the doctor what would happpen if he didn't. The doctor said that he will soon die.
He climbs down the tree and his mate who was now very weak asked him what the doctor said.
The doc said you are going to die, he replied.
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#15 Posted : 16 July 2009 16:45:00(UTC)
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Posted By John J
I'd have no problem with an accident form being filled out but I would probably not record it on the stats.
I would also ensure that the accident form clearly states that the company has no responsibility for the accident.
Filling out an accident form should not be seen as an admission of guilt by either party but it often is,

Regards,

John

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#16 Posted : 16 July 2009 18:27:00(UTC)
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Posted By DP
From another perspective - we are a mass consumer society - where do the vast majority of these consumables come from? The Far East, shipped in via containers, these containers if not fumigated correctly beforhand bring with them a host of bugs - quite unpleasant ones sometimes.

Many distribution centers in the uk will have a range of systems in place to deal with this - getting stung with one of these is in connection with your work if you are the chap unloading that container and you (as a company) have identified the possibility of an occurrence……..

An accurate account of these incidents / accidents (your call) would have to be recorded so you can deal with any issues with non compliance of the fumigation process.

I have know of quite a few bites and stings but never one to lead to any loss time - however, they scare the life out of some of the operatives - they can be very big some of the blighters.
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#17 Posted : 16 July 2009 23:58:00(UTC)
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Posted By andymak
At a previous employer they had what I felt was a good sense rule about this.

If something like a wasp nest had been reported close to a window or inside the building and no action had been taken by facilities if a sting or bite was gained by a staff member then as all reasonable measures had not been taken to prevent it an incident would be logged.

As a system it worked as it ensured facilities got pest control out ASAP!
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#18 Posted : 17 July 2009 10:21:00(UTC)
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Posted By David Gault
I was not referring to RIDDOR in my original answer, though I take on board what others have said about pest control companies etc.

In the majority of cases such bites won't be in any way serious and there may not be a pattern to them (we all get bitten at times). Within the company I work for now there have only been a few reports but inthe past I worked for a company where there was a spate of reports. Initially it was a case of people just having a moan about the odd flea bites but when I asked for reports they rolled in and we were able to track the problem down. RIDDOR - no, useful yes yes yes...ooh and yes Claire :)
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#19 Posted : 28 July 2009 12:47:00(UTC)
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Posted By Kenneth Patrick
A man, working in fields, has died after being stung by wasp.
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#20 Posted : 28 July 2009 14:39:00(UTC)
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Posted By Bob Y
And as if by magic, just reported an over 3 day that arose as the result of a wasp sting!
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#21 Posted : 28 July 2009 15:01:00(UTC)
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Posted By Peter Moran
Have had two wasp related incidents in the past!

A road-surfacing operative was stung on the neck whilst operating a ride-on roller on site. He could easily have lost control of the plant and injured someone. This was logged not only as an 'accident', but internally as a 'near-miss' as well.

Another operative who was allergic to wasp stings tried to fight the critter off and as a result slashed his calf open with a stanley knife.

Both were work related and recorded as accidents. Any injury sustained whilst at work in my mind is recordable.
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#22 Posted : 29 July 2009 09:26:00(UTC)
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Posted By Bryan Goldsmith 16052
It is a question of whether the insect bite was as a result of a work activity or not.

Or whether it was just a single incident or multiple/repeated one in which case an infestation may be present in which case the employer or landlord may well have a duty of care to employees, tenants and visitors.

An accident form can be completed regardless of whether the incident was or was not work related.
Future stats could change your view on whether a particular incident was work related.

A pest control operative bitten or stung by his quarrie is obviously at work and may not have been wearing the correct PPE.

Having said that both as a police officer and streetworks supervisor it became apparent that the best way to attract every midge and biting insect in the area during the summer was to wear a yellow reflective.
What would you do with that on a risk assessment - prescribe marmite sandwiches before going out on the street - apparently an effective insect repellant!

I think it all boils down to common sense, gut feelings and dealing with significant risks.
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#23 Posted : 30 July 2009 17:01:00(UTC)
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Posted By Peter Tanczos
Doesn't necessarily have to be as a result of "work activity". If the eg. wasps nest is on non-domestic premises made available to them as a place of work HSWA Sect.2,3&/or 4 apply. Basically if it's on your property and access to the area has not been specifically forbidden and it's a known risk (reporting of a biting/stinging 'incident'or the wasp nest) and you've done nothing about it, you could be both criminally and civilly liable. Parker v PFC Flooring Supplies Ltd. and Scott v EDC Pipework Services Ltd. show how wide the definition of a workplace is. Possible HSWA and Workplace (HS&W) breaches.
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