Tick-Borne Diseases: Recommendations

Recommendations for Employers

Employers should protect their workers from tick-borne diseases by taking these steps:

• Provide training for workers that includes information about the following:
  • How tick-borne diseases are 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 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone.
• Provide workers with repellents (such as Permethrin) to provide greater protection. Permethrin kills ticks on contact. It 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:
  • Remove leaf litter.
  • Remove, mow, or cut back tall grass and brush.
  • 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 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone.
  • EPA’s search toolexternal icon can help you find the product that best suits your needs.
  • Always follow product instructions.
• Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5%  permethrin.
  • Permethrin kills ticks on contact.
  • Permethrin can be used to treat shoes, clothing, and gear but should not be used on skin.
  • One application of permethrin to pants, socks, and shoes remains protective through several washings.
  • Alternatively, permenthrin-treated clothing is available.
• Check your skin and clothes for ticks every day. The immature forms of these ticks are very small and may be hard to see.
  • Shower or bathe as soon as possible after working outdoors to wash off and check for ticks.
  • 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 tick-borne diseases.

If you develop symptoms of a tick-borne 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.