Our workers need to be aware, whether we like it or not, that we share all of our workspaces with spiders - inside, outside, trucks, desks, file cabinets, storage lockers, trenches, you name it. Sorry, but we’re just being honest.
Most of the time, the spiders hide from humans. Spiders are usually not aggressive and most bites occur because a spider is trapped or unintentionally contacted.
The two most common venomous spiders found in the United States (and northern California) include the Black Widow and the Brown Recluse. These spiders are found both indoors and outdoors.
Here are two videos that identify these spiders:
Here is a list of actions you can take to prevent contact with spiders:
- Inspect or shake out any clothing, shoes, towels, or equipment before use.
- Wear protective clothing such as a long-sleeved shirt and long pants, hat, gloves, and boots when handling stacked or undisturbed piles of materials.
- Minimize the empty spaces between stacked materials.
- Remove and reduce debris and rubble from around the outdoor work areas.
- Trim or eliminate tall grasses from around outdoor work areas.
- Store apparel and outdoor equipment in tightly closed plastic bags.
- Keep your tetanus boosters up-to-date (every 10 years). Spider bites can become infected with tetanus spores.
Here is a list of symptoms if you suspect a spider bite:
Symptoms associated with spider bites can vary from minor to severe. Although extremely rare, death can occur in the most severe cases. Possible symptoms resulting from a spider bite include the following:
- Itching or rash
- Pain radiating from the site of the bite
- Muscle pain or cramping
- Reddish to purplish color or blister
- Increased sweating
- Difficulty breathing
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever
- Chills
- Anxiety or restlessness
- High blood pressure
Here is list of First Aid steps to address a spider bite:
- Stay calm. Identify the type of spider if it is possible to do so safely. Identification will aid in medical treatment.
- Wash the bite area with soap and water.
- Apply a cloth dampened with cold water or filled with ice to the bite area to reduce swelling.
- Elevate bite area if possible.
- Do not attempt to remove venom.
- Notify your supervisor.
- Immediately seek professional medical attention.
While rare, there is at least one recent case of a municipal worker in northern California having died after being bitten by a spider. In September 2017, a Chino, CA employee died from a spider bite. Here is a shortened description from the Department of Labor report on the incident:
“At 12:00 p.m. on September 19, 2017, Employee #1 was locating a buried drop service line in a customer s front yard…Employee #1 claimed that he was bitten by a spider, but did not leave to go to the doctor and continued to finish his tasks for the day. The next day the employee s arm was swollen, with two bites, but he continued to work. Employee #1' s wife stated that his left upper arm was swollen that night, and he put ice on it, telling her that if it did not get better, he would go to emergency room (ER) the following morning. The swelling did not go down overnight, so Employee #1 left home at 6 a.m. to go to the hospital, planning to go to work after the ER visit. The employee returned home at 11:00 a.m. and the wife observed him to be a little sweaty. She then suggested to him to go to bed and lay down. His condition got worse later on that night with the swelling extending all the way to the tip of his fingertips, his knuckles were weeping and he was throwing up. The wife took Employee #1 back to the hospital, where he was admitted and died five days later due to respiratory failure from septic shock, multiple organ failure, cellulitis and acute compartment syndrome.”
It’s important that you address these situations immediately. Even if you suspect a bite, but cannot confirm, immediately report the potential bite to your supervisor.