Welcome Guest! The IOSH forums are a free resource to both members and non-members. Login or register to use them

Postings made by forum users are personal opinions. IOSH is not responsible for the content or accuracy of any of the information contained in forum postings. Please carefully consider any advice you receive.

Notification

Icon
Error

Options
Go to last post Go to first unread
TigerJ  
#1 Posted : 26 November 2024 14:16:20(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
TigerJ

I work for a landscaping company where, by definition, our operatives spend most of their time in the outdoors.

We recently had an accident logged for a worker who was strimming knee high grass and disturbed some wasps (in November!).  He was stung multiple times and felt unwell.  No previous history of sensitivity to wasp stings.  A colleague gave him some anti-histamine tablets (his personal supply) and took him to hospital.  After 3 hours he had not been seen so decided to go home as he was feeling better.  No ill effects since then.

This incident stirred up a hornet's nest here (sorry) with lots of opinions, few of them informed.

First of all, is it an accident at all?  Popular opinion here is that it is just an 'occupational hazard' of working outside.  I say it is an accident because the injury arose as a direct result of the work being performed.  However, what if he had been stung by a single passing insect as he walked from the van to the area to be strimmed.  Would that change things? 

Secondly, what can we do to prevent it happening again?  We're recommending covering up arms and legs (not popular in the summer) and insect repellent.  Not sure how we stand as a company in providing this?  We currently supply sun cream and I see this as similar.

Finally, I have raised the issue of those out there who may have an allergy to insect stings and bites.  We do have an annual health screening questionnaire which all staff complete and I will be adding a question on this subject but I have also suggested we specifically ask all employees to let HR know if they have such an allergy and then we can try to come up with a safe system of work.  What this would be is difficult to say, apart from more extensive PPE in the form of bee-keepers gear.  Might be hard to do their job properly and safely, especially in summer.  I guess they should also be carrying their personal epi-pens which no doubt they would have if they are aware of the allergy.

I thought I'd check with the hive-mind (sorry again) to see if anyone has had first hand experience of this or some wise words of advice.

Roundtuit  
#2 Posted : 26 November 2024 15:34:59(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

Starting at the beginning this is an accident because the operatives could have looked for the presence of a wasp nest before strimming - had it been spotted it would be unlikely they would have strimmed a nest.

Covering arms and legs is a good idea for multiple protection not only for wasp stings but also to protect against brushing past stinging nettles, brambles, thorns (fungal or microbial infections - sepsis/tetanus/sporotichosis) or giant hogweed along with other nasties such as ticks and UV exposure from the sun.

Sun cream or insect repellent I would not be involved on the supply of either for anyone other than myself - I know which active ingredients I can use and which bring me out in a rash.

As to health screening human bodies can become very sensitised after a single exposure or suddenly develop a reaction due to other triggers.

thanks 2 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.
A Kurdziel on 26/11/2024(UTC), A Kurdziel on 26/11/2024(UTC)
Roundtuit  
#3 Posted : 26 November 2024 15:34:59(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

Starting at the beginning this is an accident because the operatives could have looked for the presence of a wasp nest before strimming - had it been spotted it would be unlikely they would have strimmed a nest.

Covering arms and legs is a good idea for multiple protection not only for wasp stings but also to protect against brushing past stinging nettles, brambles, thorns (fungal or microbial infections - sepsis/tetanus/sporotichosis) or giant hogweed along with other nasties such as ticks and UV exposure from the sun.

Sun cream or insect repellent I would not be involved on the supply of either for anyone other than myself - I know which active ingredients I can use and which bring me out in a rash.

As to health screening human bodies can become very sensitised after a single exposure or suddenly develop a reaction due to other triggers.

thanks 2 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.
A Kurdziel on 26/11/2024(UTC), A Kurdziel on 26/11/2024(UTC)
Kate  
#4 Posted : 26 November 2024 15:37:25(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Kate

I recall this topic being covered here some time ago - so if you use the search function, you may be able to find previous discussion on this.

"Occupational hazards" are precisely those that we are concerned with in occupational health and safety, so I find the dismissive use of the term by your colleagues unhelpful.

thanks 1 user thanked Kate for this useful post.
A Kurdziel on 26/11/2024(UTC)
Kate  
#5 Posted : 26 November 2024 15:49:06(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Kate

Knowing how annoying the search function here is to use, especially, if you are not used to it, I thought I'd try to be more helpful so I've dug out links to some previous discussions.  I make no comment on the quality of the discussion.

http://forum.iosh.co.uk/posts/t122327-Supplying-of-Insect-Repellant

http://forum.iosh.co.uk/posts/t115493-Insect-Bites-at-Work

http://forum.iosh.co.uk/posts/t106224-Insect-Bites

http://forum.iosh.co.uk/posts/t86964-Insect-bites---Accidents-or-not

thanks 2 users thanked Kate for this useful post.
TigerJ on 26/11/2024(UTC), A Kurdziel on 26/11/2024(UTC)
TigerJ  
#6 Posted : 26 November 2024 16:17:30(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
TigerJ

Originally Posted by: Kate Go to Quoted Post

I recall this topic being covered here some time ago - so if you use the search function, you may be able to find previous discussion on this.

"Occupational hazards" are precisely those that we are concerned with in occupational health and safety, so I find the dismissive use of the term by your colleagues unhelpful.


Thanks Kate,

I did do a search but probably used the wrong search terms so missed the relevant threads that you have kindly linked.

thanks 1 user thanked TigerJ for this useful post.
Kate on 26/11/2024(UTC)
TigerJ  
#7 Posted : 26 November 2024 16:21:39(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
TigerJ

Originally Posted by: Roundtuit Go to Quoted Post

Starting at the beginning this is an accident because the operatives could have looked for the presence of a wasp nest before strimming - had it been spotted it would be unlikely they would have strimmed a nest.

Covering arms and legs is a good idea for multiple protection not only for wasp stings but also to protect against brushing past stinging nettles, brambles, thorns (fungal or microbial infections - sepsis/tetanus/sporotichosis) or giant hogweed along with other nasties such as ticks and UV exposure from the sun.

Sun cream or insect repellent I would not be involved on the supply of either for anyone other than myself - I know which active ingredients I can use and which bring me out in a rash.

As to health screening human bodies can become very sensitised after a single exposure or suddenly develop a reaction due to other triggers.


Thank you.  I did ask the operative whether there was a nest (because I wasn't sure that wasps nested in grass).  He said he didn't see one.  

We work on quite large areas so I am not sure searching the whole area before we start would be practical - although this was my first suggestion as well.

There seems to be a range of opinions on providing either suncream or insect repellent and I take your points completely.  Perhaps we should go down the employee buys and claims back.

A Kurdziel  
#8 Posted : 26 November 2024 16:22:07(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
A Kurdziel

Did some of this when I was  with the National Bee Unit some years ago. The question we always asked was “ is this one of our bees or or just a bee passing through” i.e  was this bee encounter a result of your work activity or was it just there.

Strimming is one of those jobs that is looks straightforward but especially if its long grass you can come across all sorts of hazards not just wasps nests. Ideally you have a look and see what you can find. Often with wasps nests you can hear them  before you see them. Also note that machinery noise can make bees and wasps extra  aggressive. I still remember a groundsman stirring  bees in several hives with his ride on mower. He ended up taking refuge in a pond!  

TigerJ  
#9 Posted : 26 November 2024 16:26:02(UTC)
Rank: New forum user
TigerJ

Originally Posted by: A Kurdziel Go to Quoted Post

Did some of this when I was  with the National Bee Unit some years ago. The question we always asked was “ is this one of our bees or or just a bee passing through” i.e  was this bee encounter a result of your work activity or was it just there.

Strimming is one of those jobs that is looks straightforward but especially if its long grass you can come across all sorts of hazards not just wasps nests. Ideally you have a look and see what you can find. Often with wasps nests you can hear them  before you see them. Also note that machinery noise can make bees and wasps extra  aggressive. I still remember a groundsman stirring  bees in several hives with his ride on mower. He ended up taking refuge in a pond!  


Thank you. 

Part of the problem with hearing the buzzing noise is that the operative is wearing ear defenders and using a petrol strimmer so hearing them is unlikely.  

Kate  
#10 Posted : 26 November 2024 17:29:51(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Kate

It's surely foreseeable that while strimming, you may hit all manner of things concealed in the grass, including living things.  So I would expect hitting things (in general) to be considered in the risk assessment, although how far you can go in controlling it would be a matter of debate. 

Unlike the cases where someone is just randomly stung by a passing insect (the debate about which seems so to have enraged earlier posters here), I can't see getting hurt as a result of hitting something while strimming for work as not being a work-related injury.  That, of course, is precisely because it is caused by an occupational hazard!

thanks 2 users thanked Kate for this useful post.
A Kurdziel on 27/11/2024(UTC), peter gotch on 27/11/2024(UTC)
A Kurdziel  
#11 Posted : 27 November 2024 09:33:11(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
A Kurdziel

What I meant by “Ideally you have a look and see what you can find”  is that before putting all of the PPE on you survey the area and see what you might come across in the long , be it wasp’s nests,  drug’s users discarded syringes or mating animals.

grim72  
#12 Posted : 27 November 2024 12:08:56(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
grim72

Just as an aside - wasps nests can be virtually invisble - they can nest underground and access via small hole (not disimilar to a little mouse hole) - so if it is in long grass you are highly unlikely to see it. I know this from past experience having inadvertantly walked over one in the woods before breaking into a fullout sprint.

A Kurdziel  
#13 Posted : 27 November 2024 16:13:03(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
A Kurdziel

“so if it( the wasp’s next) is in long grass you are highly unlikely to see it”: which is true but that does not mean you should not try.  Just because we can’t guarantee something does not mean the exercise is pointless and it’s not just wasp nests you need to look out for. I get very nervous when someone says it’s just one of those things that you need to put up with when you do that sort of job.

achrn  
#14 Posted : 28 November 2024 10:23:02(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
achrn

Originally Posted by: grim72 Go to Quoted Post

Just as an aside - wasps nests can be virtually invisble - they can nest underground and access via small hole (not disimilar to a little mouse hole) 


In my youth, me and a mate while mucking about in the woods behind his house decided to dig up an underground wasps nest we found.  I still don't know what we were thinking, though I try and recall the incident when someone (one of my children, the 'injured party', whoever) does something stupid.

thanks 2 users thanked achrn for this useful post.
Kate on 28/11/2024(UTC), peter gotch on 28/11/2024(UTC)
firesafety101  
#15 Posted : 28 November 2024 12:11:40(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
firesafety101

I once had a wasp's nest in my loft and called someone out to remove it.  He told me you can tell when a wasps nest is near by seeing single wasps leaving and other single wasps returning to the nest.  That would indicate the location.

Also, in high summer it is advisable to wear long sleeves and trousers to protect from the sun.

peter gotch  
#16 Posted : 28 November 2024 14:04:17(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
peter gotch

Hi Tiger

I wonder whether those people who say that it is "just an occupational hazard" would say the same if one of the landscaping vans was involved in a collision on the road.

OR would they recognise that as an obvious risk of getting from base to site and a risk to be managed?

If so, why would they not equally see that all the risks of working in the open air are also to be managed - so far as reasonably practicable?

So, I will hazard a guess that you consider what precautions to take when working near open water, adverse weather conditions and rough terrain. So why not the hazardous flora and fauna that your workforce are likely to encounter?

thanks 1 user thanked peter gotch for this useful post.
A Kurdziel on 29/11/2024(UTC)
Users browsing this topic
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.