The good news is that most people infected by a mosquito that is carrying West Nile virus have no symptoms and do not get sick. When infection does cause illness, the symptoms can include mild flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache, and body aches. At greater risk are individuals with weak immune systems, including the elderly and the young, who can develop more severe health effects such as encephalitis or meningitis. Even though the chances of a person getting West Nile virus are small - only 1% of mosquitoes in any given area are infected with the virus - employees may still find the possibility of contracting the virus stressful. And, while it is not necessary to ask employees to change their normal outdoor work safety practices unless there is evidence of mosquito-borne disease in your area, you can help to reduce any fears by proactively providing information and training.
As Canada’s largest owner, operator and developer of high-quality member golf clubs, daily fee golf clubs and resorts, ClubLink employs nearly 2,500 employees during its peak summer season. "Given the number of employees we have working outdoors on our patios and our golf courses, we felt we needed to be proactive about how we approached West Nile this season," says Wendy Burgess, Manager, Corporate Environmental Policy and Operations. The organization has posted detailed memos on employee bulletin boards and published newsletter articles about protection techniques, all the while stressing the importance of wearing appropriate clothing. "We think knowledge can go a long way towards reducing fear, and that has been our goal with all these materials," adds Lindsey Hume, Health and Safety Coordinator.
One of the best ways to reduce the risk of the virus is to take steps to reduce the chances of employees getting mosquito bites in the first place. Potential mosquito-breeding areas such as rain gutters, roofs, ditches and eaves troughs should be examined and drained on a regular basis. Buckets, wheelbarrows, and other containers should be kept turned upside down when not in use so they cannot collect stagnant water.
At ClubLink, managers are trained to always be on the lookout for possible mosquito breeding grounds. "As part of our pesticide training program, we’ve educated our golf course superintendents on West Nile, and encouraged them to improve any grading problems that may lead to stagnant water gathering," says Burgess. Superintendents are also licensed to treat areas with larvacide to reduce the number of mosquitoes in the area, if necessary.
Encouraging staff to wear repellant when they are outdoors for long periods of time and when mosquitoes are most active is another good way to reduce the number of mosquito bites. However, while most repellants are effective for reducing bites from ticks and insects that transmit disease, they are not without their health risks. Most repellants contain the active ingredient DEET, a product that has been associated with skin reactions and eye irritation, especially when concentrations of DEET are 50% and above. For this reason, the amount of DEET in an insect repellent should be no greater than 30% for adults and no greater than 10% for children.
While ClubLink does not supply employees because of current regulations regarding the distribution of goods containing DEET and/or with a drug identification number, the organization provides information to employees on its safe use. "There is so much misinformation about DEET out there," notes Hume. "We believe that it is important for employees to understand the different DEET levels to protect themselves at work and their families at home."
When deciding on a repellant, employees should only use the type and amount needed for the situation and the length of time they will be outdoors. Employees should be taught how to safely apply DEET-based products, and be reminded to wash all skin that is exposed to repellants at the end of their shift.
Finally, developing a written plan, in consultation with the joint health and safety committee or worker health and safety representative, can ensure that there is a cohesive protection plan that is agreed upon by everyone within the workplace. Once a plan is developed, the employer should take steps to make sure that it is implemented and that staff are trained on the contents of the plan.
The plan should identify outdoor workers at increased risk of mosquito bites because of the nature or location of their duties. Employees should also be informed about:
With the right training and awareness, outdoor workers can continue to work outdoors this summer with confidence - while taking a significant bite out of West Nile Virus.
Excerpted from: The Safety Mosaic, Vol 6, No. 2, Summer 2003
While the minimum age for workers is 15 in a factory, the minimum age requirement for employment behind a counter (in a store, for example) is 14 years of age.
