Training Guidance for Spider bites for both Trainers and Supervisors
In the workplace, encounters with dangerous spiders like the brown recluse and black widow can pose a significant risk. These eight-legged creatures, easily recognisable by their distinctive features, are a concern for workers, particularly those in environments prone to spiders, such as gardens, basements, or attics.
The brown recluse spider, with its brown colouring, three pairs of eyes, and a violin-like pattern on its underside, is one such dangerous species. The black widow spider, on the other hand, is identified by its black body and the red hourglass marking on its underside. Both of these spiders can inflict harmful bites on workers.
To prevent such incidents, several practical measures can be implemented. Workers should wear protective clothing such as long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and gloves. Regular cleaning of workspaces to remove cobwebs, sealing cracks or openings in walls, and installing insect screens on doors and windows can also help reduce spider encounters.
Additionally, workers should shake out clothes and shoes before wearing, check before working near vines, brush, overgrown grass, and wooded habitats, wear gloves when handling firewood, lumber, and rocks, and install yellow or sodium vapor light bulbs outdoors. It is also advisable not to stack wood against a building and to remove heavy vegetation and leaf litter around building foundations.
In the unfortunate event of a spider bite, immediate first aid is crucial. Workers should move away from the area to ensure safety and avoid more bites. The bite site should be gently cleaned with mild soap and water to prevent infection, then an antiseptic applied. Using ice wrapped in a cloth, applied for 10-15 minutes every hour, can help reduce pain and swelling.
For potentially dangerous spider bites, such as those from the funnel-web spider, a pressure immobilisation bandage should be applied starting at the bite site, and the limb kept still. Emergency medical help should be sought immediately—do not cut, suck, or place ice directly on these bites.
Additional treatment steps include keeping first aid kits with spider bite first aid supplies accessible at the workplace, monitoring for signs of severe reactions, and seeking professional medical care if these occur. Over-the-counter pain relievers may be used according to instructions to manage pain.
In summary, preventive measures focus on protective clothing and workspace maintenance, while treatments emphasise wound cleaning, pain and swelling control, immobilisation for serious bites, and rapid medical assistance when needed. Employers should incorporate spider bite management into workplace health and safety protocols to ensure preparedness.
It's important to note that most spiders are harmless to humans and beneficial predators that reduce pest populations. However, understanding the risks and taking preventative measures can help protect workers from potential harm.
