LYME DISEASE

Recommendations for Employers

Employers should protect their workers from Lyme disease by taking these steps:

• Provide training for workers that includes information about the following:
  • How Lyme disease is spread
  • The risks of exposure and infection
  • How workers can protect themselves from ticks
  • The importance of the timely reporting of workplace illnesses and injuries
• Recommend that workers wear light-colored long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks, and hat when possible.
  • If worker uniforms are provided, provide long-sleeved shirts and long pants as options.
• Provide workers with repellents (containing 20% to 30% DEET) to use on their skin and clothing for protection against tick bites.
• Provide workers with insecticides (such as permethrin)to provide greater protection. Permethrin kills ticks and can be used on clothing (but not skin).
• When possible, have workers avoid working at sites with woods, bushes, tall grass, and leaf litter.
• When avoiding these sites is not possible, personal protective measures are of particular importance. If work in these higher-risk sites must occur, take the following steps to reduce tick populations:
  • Removeleaf litter.
  • Remove, mow, or cut back tall grass and brush.
  • Control rodent and small mammal populations.
  • Discourage deer activity.

Recommendations for Workers

Take the following steps to protect yourself from tick bites:

• Wear a hat and light-colored clothing, including long-sleeved shirts and long pants tucked into boots or socks.
• Use insect repellents that provide protection for the amount of time you will be outdoors:
  • Follow repellent label directions for use.
  • Use repellents containing 20% to 30% DEET on your skin or clothing.
  • Reapply repellents as needed.
• Use insecticides such as Permethrin for greater protection.
  • Permethrin kills ticks on contact.
  • Permethrin can be used on clothing but should not be used on skin.
  • One application of permethrin to pants, socks, and shoes typically stays effective through several washings.
  • Pre-treated clothing is available and remains protective for many (up to 70) washings.
• Check your skin and clothes for ticks every day. The immature forms of these ticks are very small and may be hard to see.
  • Remember to check your hair, underarms, and groin for ticks.
  • Immediately remove ticks from your body using fine-tipped tweezers.
  • Grasp the tick firmly and as close to your skin as possible.
  • Pull the tick’s body away from your skin with a steady motion.
  • Clean the area with soap and water.
  • Removing infected ticks within 24 hours reduces your risk of being infected with the Lyme disease bacterium.
• Wash and dry work clothes in a hot dryer to kill any ticks present.
• Learn the symptoms of Lyme disease.
• If you develop symptoms of Lyme disease seek medical attention promptly. Be sure to tell your health care provider that you work outdoors in an area where ticks may be present.