With Oil and Gas companies expanding their reach in the Marcellus and Utica Shale plays, workers are finding themselves in more and more remote locations throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. It is important for HS&E professionals and workers alike to recognize that as we break new ground in different areas, there is a natural population of wildlife that will need to be recognized and avoided. This article will outline the safety issues that arise when coming in contact with venomous snakes, spiders, ticks and bees in the field, as well as the concerns surrounding what types of bug repellants can be used while onsite.
Snakes
There are 3 types of venomous snake species indigenous to Pennsylvania and Ohio, while West Virginia only has two venomous species. All three states are known to have Northern Copperhead and Timber Rattlesnakes, and Pennsylvania and Ohio have a third venomous snake called the Eastern Massasauga. All three of these venomous snakes are members of the pit viper family, are usually non-aggressive and like to avoid human contact whenever possible. If you come across one of these snakes, it is important that you never try to handle or catch them, if left undisturbed they will either remain still until the person is gone or move away on their own. You can immediately tell if a snake is venomous by the rectangular shaped head and slit-like pupils, and a table describing the venomous snakes in our area is included in this article.
Other than risking a serious bite, another reason to avoid contact with these snakes is that they could be endangered in your area and it might be against the law to handle them. The Northern Copperhead is not endangered, the Eastern Massasauga is considered endangered in Pennsylvania and Ohio and the Timber Rattlesnake is considered “threatened” in Ohio and is a “candidate species” in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. A “threatened” species is on the brink of becoming endangered, and a “candidate” species is on the brink of becoming threatened. As a result of these classifications, it is against the law to harm or kill these snake species.
Paying attention to your surroundings and being aware of what types of snakes might be in the area where you are working is the best way to avoid contact, but there are several products available to protect yourself if accidental contact is made with these animals. Snake bite kits can be used to treat wounds if immediate medical attention is not available. If you are bitten, immediate medical attention is required, but remote locations might need to have an initial treatment option on hand in the event of an emergency. Other products include snake protection gaiters, chaps and pants. These products act as a shield to protect the legs from snake bites, which is where most snake-related injuries are found.
Bees
Bee stings have been an occupational hazard for people working outdoors for centuries and workers in the Utica and Marcellus are no different. The best way to protect from being stung by a single bee or attacked by an entire swarm is to avoid nests whenever possible. If you do accidently come across a nest and it has not been disturbed, slowly and quietly move in the opposite direction. If you have disturbed the nest and a swarm develops, it is important to remain as calm as possible. Swatting or running seems to aggravate stinging insects, and killing certain types of bees will only bring more to the attack. Try to shield your face with your arms and slowly move out of the danger zone, or lie down on the ground and remain still. Once the bees feel as though they are no longer under attack, they will move on. Many people think that getting to a source of water and jumping in will end the attack, but it is important to note that Africanized honey bees have been known to wait for their prey to surface and continue to attack. Avoiding perfumed toiletries like hairspray and scented sunscreen, as well as suede or leather will help reduce risk, as bees are attracted to these types of odors.
If you are stung by a bee, or several bees, the first step is to make sure that the stinger is removed from the skin. After a bee sting, the stinger remains in the skin and can continue to inject venom into the victim. Once the stinger is removed, apply ice or a cold compress for comfort, and a histamine blocker like Benadryl will help to reduce swelling. If a severe allergic reaction occurs, the affected worker must be transported to a medical facility as soon as possible. Although rare, bee stings can be fatal to people who are severely allergic. If you have a known bee allergy and work in the field, be sure to notify your supervisor of the allergy and always be prepared by carrying an epinephrine auto-injector, commonly referred to as an EpiPen.
Spiders
There are two types of venomous spider that can be found in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. All three states are known to have Northern Black Widow and Southern Black Widow spiders. These widow spiders are very similar, but the difference can be seen in the markings. Both species are jet black in color, and have a bright red hourglass marking on the underside of the abdomen. All widow spiders will also have red or white spots running down the middle of their backs, as well as white stripes that can run diagonally down the sides of the abdomen. The difference between a Northern and Southern Black Widow can be seen in the hourglass marking on the abdomen. The Northern Black Widow’s bright red hourglass marking usually appears incomplete, with the bottom half and top half separated. The Southern Black Widow will have the same hourglass marking, but it is usually complete and has more rounded corners.
Northern and Southern Black widow spiders are usually non aggressive, and will only attack if they feel threatened. It is also important to note that only the females of the species are venomous, males are considered largely harmless. If bitten by either type of Black Widow, the CDC recommends cleaning the bite area, wrapping a tight bandage around the bite to slow the venom’s spread and seeking immediate medical attention. If possible, keep the site of the bite elevated to reduce swelling. Although Black Widow bites are usually not life threatening, a doctor may want to treat some bites with some form of anti-venom.
Ticks
One of the biggest problem insects to look out for while in the field is another member of the arachnid family, the tick. There are several hundred types of tick species known worldwide, with over 25 species located in Pennsylvania. Ticks are not venomous, but carry and transmit several types of bacteria and diseases which can lead to long term health problems or even death if not properly treated. Diseases transmitted by ticks include, but are not limited to, Erlichiosis, Tularemia, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Tick Paralysis and Lyme disease. Information on these diseases and their symptoms can be found by visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov.
According to the CDC website, the best way to prevent Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases is to wear light colored clothing, tuck pant legs into socks, check the body throughout the day for the presence of ticks, to use tick repellants and to take a hot shower as soon after work as possible. If an embedded tick is found on your body, use forceps or tweezers to remove the tick from the skin. Make sure to grab the tick as close to the head as possible, as squeezing from the middle can cause toxins to be injected into the body. Use medium pressure to extract the tick, if the head separates while still in the skin, seek medical attention. If symptoms such as ring-like rash around the bite or red-purplish rash at the ankles or wrists appear, seek immediate medical attention. The symptoms could be a result of Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Prevention
There are several products available today that help to repel bugs, but not all of them are designed to repel ticks. Insecticides containing Permethrin or DEET are usually the most effective in keeping you safe from ticks. DEET is the active ingredient in several repellants, while Permethrin is most commonly used to treat clothing. It is important to read all labels and even contact manufacturers directly to make sure that these types of repellants can be used safely with flame-resistant clothing. In most cases, as long as the chemicals are not applied via aerosol and are given enough time to dry, they are not considered flammable. It is best to use DEET in an applied form, such as a wipe or a cream, as the aerosol properties of most repellants are flammable.
Being aware of the dangers in your work environments is the first step in keeping you and your workers protected. Hopefully this article has given you some insight as to what to look for while working in remote areas, and in some cases, in areas that are not remote at all. More information can be found on all of the topics listed above by visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov and the Mayo Clinic Website at www.mayoclinic.com.
By Chris Chadwick, Safety Products Coordinator at SunnySide Supply, Inc. www.SunnySideSupply.com
References:
“Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.” (n.d.). Web. 15 May 2012. http://www.CDC.gov
“The Mayo Clinic.” (n.d.). Web. 18 June 2012. www.mayoclinic.com
“Venombyte.” (n.d.). Web. 19 June 2012. www.venombyte.com
“Tandem Training and Tracking.” (n.d.). Web. 19 June 2012. www.tandemtrainingandtracking.com
“United States Department of Agriculture.” (n.d.). Web. 20 June 2012. www.usda.gov