The hazard
Outdoor crews work where ticks, mosquitoes and stinging insects live: tall grass, brush, wood piles, eaves and equipment that has sat for a while. Ticks and mosquitoes can spread diseases such as Lyme disease and West Nile virus, and a sting can set off a severe allergic reaction that needs emergency care right away.
The action
Wear long sleeves and long pants, and tuck your pants into your socks or boots in grass and brush. Light colors make ticks easier to spot. Use an EPA-registered insect repellent on exposed skin and follow the label. Clothing treated with permethrin helps against ticks, but permethrin goes on clothing and gear, never on skin.
ASK THE CREW
What repellent and long-sleeve gear do we have on the truck?
From the talk: Insects, ticks and stings. Read it in full, free, with the questions and the sign-in sheet.