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
OSHA has no standard written just for insects and ticks, but in construction the general duty to train still applies (29 CFR 1926.21(b)(2)). On construction sites where harmful plants or animals are present, workers who may be exposed must be told about the hazards, how to avoid injury and the first aid to use. Learn where ticks, nests and ant mounds show up on this job, and tell your foreman about new ones. (29 CFR 1926.21(b)(4))
ASK THE CREW
How do you check for ticks after work, and what do you do if you find one?
From the talk: Insects, ticks and stings. Read it in full, free, with the questions and the sign-in sheet.