Ticks are on the rise in Canada: What can employers do to keep outdoor workers safe?

Toronto, Canada. July 10 2023 - The massive growth in ticks across the country over the past couple of years is putting an increasing number of Canadians at risk of developing Lyme disease, among other diseases. There have been over 17,000 reported cases of Lyme Disease across Canada between 2009 and 2022, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Outdoor workers face a number of hazards on the job. From heat stroke and sun exposure, outdoor workers need to also protect themselves from ticks. Especially those who work in wooded or bushy areas, or an area with high grass must be mindful of protecting themselves from ticks in the spring, summer, and fall.

“Under the OHSA, employers have the duty to protect employees from workplace hazards. So, what can employers do to ensure the safety of outdoor workers? Employers need to educate employees on how to protect themselves, symptoms to watch out for, and how to properly remove a tick from the skin”, says Michelle Ann Zoleta, Health & Safety Manager, at Peninsula Canada.

It’s important to first conduct a risk assessment of the area and then encourage outdoor workers to take the following preventative steps. • Wear light-colored clothes to help find ticks more easily. • Wear long sleeve shirts, long pants, and boots. • Use insect repellent. • Immediately after outdoor work do a full body check for ticks. • Shower soon to wash off a tick that may not be attached through a bite. • Put clothes in the dryer for one hour on high heat to kill any ticks.

Encourage staff to follow the workplace accident policy and report any workplace illnesses or hazards. Having a set procedure in place will allow employers to assist staff accordingly. This policy will help: • Follow provincial requirements linked to occupational illness. • Address required forms to use to document the events. • Initiate further risk assessments.

Employees should also be educated on what to do if bit by a tick and what symptoms to watch out for. This includes fever, headache, skin rash, and swollen lymph nodes. Workers should see their doctor or a healthcare provider right away, if they have symptoms, or are just feeling unwell in the weeks following a tick bite.

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