Protect outdoor workers from deadly risks

Without protection, outdoor workers in Australia are at serious risk of being bitten by harmful animals with the potential of serious injury or worse. In November last year, an autopsy found a worker died almost instantly from a Taipan bite while working in thick bushland near Yeppoon in central Queensland.

While being fully aware of the dangers, most Australians tend to laugh it off when they hear visitors to our shores saying they are scared of our native wildlife such as our reptiles and spiders. But they are out there and outdoor workers, in particular, should take precautions.

We share our continent with about 140 species of land snakes, some equipped with venom more toxic than any other snakes in the world. Our most common deadly snakes (Eastern, Western and King Brown, Tiger, Death Adder and Taipan) all produce venom of extreme potency, enough to kill an adult from a single strike. Often without the victims knowing they’ve been bitten.

According to the experts at National Geographic, snake bites are actually quite rare in Australia and, since the development of antivenom, fatalities have been low - between four to six deaths a year. This is in contrast to India, for example, where bites often reach one million a year, with over 50,000 deaths.

Snake experts say bites in Australia are often caused by the person being bitten when they are trying to kill or catch a snake or just showing off.

Russell Silver, Sales Director with HexArmor, a leading manufacturer of cut, puncture and impact safety products, says people should be especially careful in known snake areas.

“People should wear appropriate clothing with some kind of protection, gaiters for example, around their legs, and be very careful picking up and looking underneath objects as that is where snakes tend to stay, especially during the heat of the day.

“Most snakes come out at night to hunt for food, but during the day they can be found under items like corrugated iron sheets, large rocks or piles of timber. As well, people should never put their hand in a hole.

“It is especially important to stay away from snakes that are coiled or whose heads are raised. These behaviours may indicate they are primed to strike,” Silver said.

When it comes to types of snakes, Australia’s brown snakes are the most deadly snakes in the world.

Fast-moving, aggressive and known for their bad temper, eastern brown snakes (found throughout the eastern half of mainland Australia), together with other browns, are responsible for more deaths every year in Australia than any other group of snakes.

If disturbed, the eastern brown raises its body off the ground, winding into an ‘S’ shape, mouth gaping open and ready to strike. Its venom causes progressive paralysis and stops the blood from clotting, which may take many doses of antivenom to reverse. Victims may collapse within a few minutes.

NSW Health Service says people who have been bitten by any type of snake should never interfere with the bite by cutting or trying to suck out the venom, or clean the venom from the skin. A firm bandage should be applied over clothing, starting at the bite site, then going down to fingers or toes and back up to the hip or shoulder, as tight as would be applied for a sprained ankle. The location of the bite should be marked on the bandage. The limb should also be immobilised with a splint, either by splinting the legs together or the arm to the trunk of the body, and the patient should be kept still and transported carefully.

After first aid has been applied, 000 should be contacted. Most hospital emergency departments have access to antivenom for black, brown and tiger snake bites.

Protection from bites

HexArmor’s representative says that while the company’s products are bite resistant, “they are not bite proof”, and assessing potential danger should be the first step. If the wearer has the ability to do a safe test, it is always recommended to do so.

Some workers have been using specific models of the HexArmor needlestick-resistant products for handling animals including reptiles, rats, dogs, feral cats, possums, ferrets, etc as they have shown resistance to bites.

Cut, puncture and abrasion resistant, the HexArmor 9951 gaiters are designed to protect the wearer from animals that bite, as well as high-risk hazards on the job site.

In addition to high puncture resistance, the US-made gaiters provide ISEA (International Safety Equipment Association) Level 5 cut resistance.

Made with SuperFabric brand material, the gaiters are highly cut, puncture and abrasion resistant with front-to-back leg coverage. They also feature a reflective strip for visibility in low light situations.

HexArmor also produces the Hercules needle-resistant NSR 3041 gloves for handling animals with sharp teeth/incisors and the Hercules 400R6E heavy-duty gloves for primates and large bird handling.

The deadliest creature

While many visitors to our shores are more worried about our venomous eight-legged friends, Australia’s spider reputation is bigger than its bite: records show no deaths from spider bites here since 1981. Spiders are the most widely distributed venomous creatures in Australia, with an estimated 10,000 species inhabiting a variety of ecosystems. But even though spiders live around us, from our urban centres to the bush, bites are infrequent. In fact, spiders are less life threatening than snakes or sharks, or even bees.

What many visitors and Australians would not know is that mosquitoes are one of the most deadliest creatures in the world, with more deaths associated with mosquitoes than any other animal on the planet. Mosquito-borne diseases in Australia include malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus and some rare forms of encephalitis. Figures show mosquitoes infect over 700 million people every year.

Protection from mosquitoes

Offering six to 15 hours of protection from mosquitoes, Bushman insect repellents are suitable for outdoor professionals, sporting enthusiasts and overseas travellers.

According to Sue Dwyer from Bushman Repellents, the Bushman range is proven to be 100% effective hours longer than any other personal insect repellent. “The repellent is active against other blood-seeking insects such as flies, ticks, leeches, horseflies, sandflies and midges. It is also water, sweat and rub resistant but still allows the skin to breathe.”

Bushman products were developed in 1990 by Tom Bethurem - an industrial chemist living in Australia’s Tropical North, with over 35 years’ experience developing personal insect repellents.

An alternative to a gel or liquid mosquito repellent which is traditionally sprayed or spread on people’s skin to protect them from mosquitoes, Para’Kito is a range of refillable wristbands and clips offering natural mosquito protection. Brent Rundle, representing Para’Kito, says the refillable wristbands and clips are based on a patented technology of impregnation of essential oils into polymers.

“The wristbands can be worn on the wrist or ankle, day and night, to protect against mosquitoes. The long-lasting Para’Kito pellets are effective for 15 days and waterproof, meaning that swimming, heavy rain or any contact with water does not affect the product’s efficacy,” Rundle said.

Rundle explained that the Para’Kito pellet diffuses only essential oils and does not come in contact with the skin; as such it is suitable for pregnant women and young children and recommended for individuals susceptible to skin allergies and irritations.

For many in Australia, day-to-day protection at work or elsewhere from creatures and critters is a necessary way of life. By using products such as HexArmor, Bushman and Para’Kito from the Blackwoods range, workplaces can help to ensure that their workers have protection from these risks.