Tick-Borne Illness (Lyme Disease) Prevention

Talking points

1. Ticks are found in tall grass, wooded areas, and brush — common terrain for pipeline, utility, road, and site preparation work. Not all areas of the country have equal risk, but ticks are expanding their range.
2. Lyme disease causes a bull's-eye rash (in about 70% of cases), fever, headache, fatigue, and joint pain. If untreated, it can cause chronic joint, heart, and neurological problems.
3. Prevention: wear long pants tucked into boots, apply DEET (20-30%) to skin and permethrin to clothing, and perform full-body tick checks at the end of each day — especially behind the ears, in the hairline, and around the waistband.
4. Remove attached ticks with fine-tipped tweezers, grasping as close to the skin as possible and pulling straight out with steady pressure. Do not twist, burn, or smother the tick.
5. If you develop a rash, fever, or flu-like symptoms within 3-30 days of finding a tick, see a doctor and mention the tick bite. Early antibiotic treatment is highly effective.

Ask the crew

Are we working in areas with tall grass or brush today — and does everyone know how to do a tick check?

Standards this talk is built on

• Section 5(a)(1)

A toolbox talk is a short safety briefing. It supports the training a standard requires; it does not replace it.

Sign-in sheet

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