For Employers
Employees in Virginia are at Risk On & Off the Job
Employees with a tick-borne disease may experience symptoms that can impact their ability to work. In a survey of over 400 participants with a tick-borne disease, 3 in 5 said their symptoms interfered with their ability to work. Symptoms can lead to decreased productivity and increased absenteeism, presenteeism, and healthcare costs. Employers need to recognize the hazard of ticks and their effects on their ability to work.
Employees in Virginia are at risk of getting bitten by a tick and contracting a tick-borne disease both on and off the job. On the job, employees working in forestry, agriculture, or outdoors are at the highest risk. Off the job, employees often get bit in their yards. In a survey with over 400 participants, half were bitten in their yard, followed by in a park or while recreating.
Employers...
Is your workplace in Virginia or a region where tick-borne diseases are becoming increasingly common?
Are your employees working outdoors, with animals, or have tasks that increase their risk of tick exposure?
Do you have employees with tick-borne diseases such as Alpha-gal Syndrome or Lyme Disease?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, consider starting a tick safety and tick-borne disease program for your employees.
Hierarchy of Controls
Applied to Total Worker Health Applied to
Tick Safety & Tick-borne Diseases in the Workplace
Applied to Total Worker Health Applied to
Tick Safety & Tick-borne Diseases in the Workplace
Total Worker Health(R) is an integrated approach to worker safety, health and wellbeing recommended by the National of Institute of Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) that prioritizes safety while simultaneously engaging in polices, programs and practices to advance the overall wellbeing of workers. A Total Worker Health(R) approach recognizes that both occupational and non-occupational exposures can lead to worker injury and illness and that job-related factors can have significant impacts on the wellbeing of workers, families and their communities. The Hierarchy of Controls applied to Total Worker Health can be applied to tick safety and tick-borne diseases in the workplace and is a recommended model and approach to developing a workplace tick safety and tick-borne disease program.
Are you interested in starting a tick safety and tick-borne disease prevention program for your employees?
Not sure where to start? Dr. Hall, the founder of Ticks in Virginia, is an expert in designing, implementing, and evaluating integrated health, safety, and well-being programs and can help you get started. She can provide training workshops or a tailored program to meet your unique workplace needs.
Contact Dr. Hall at ticksinvirginia@gmail.com for a free consultation.