There is a great deal of variation in the types of environments U.S workers do their jobs in. Some jobs involve a lot of work in outdoor environments.
Outdoor work has many unique aspects. This includes some special safety risks. One reason for this is that nature, while it can be picturesque and refreshing, can also have its dangerous aspects.
So, when outdoor workers suffer on-the-job injuries, there could be a lot of unique factors at play in how the injuries came about. Understanding what specifically led to a particular workplace injury can be key in having a clear picture of what compensation-related options the injured worker has. Experienced workplace injury lawyers can help workers who were injured while performing work outdoors with investigating what particular factors were present in the events that led to their injuries.
One of the things out in nature that can pose dangers to outdoor workers are poisonous plants. Examples of some such plants that are found here in America include: poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac.
Now, some might make assumptions that exposure to such plants while working really isn’t that big of a problem. After all, the worst that could happen as a result of such exposure is having to deal with some itching, right? Actually, what effects a worker experiences from being exposed to poisonous plants can vary quite a bit. In some instances, the effects are quite severe.
So, being on the lookout for poisonous plants and taking precautions aimed at preventing poisonous plant exposure (like wearing gloves and cleaning work tools after using them) can be important safety steps for outdoor workers when working in areas where lots of plants are present.
Among the things that could lead to a worker experiencing particularly major effects from exposure to poisonous plants is inhaling the sap oil of such plants One thing that could lead to risks of such inhalation arising is poisonous plants being burned. Given this, it is very important for employers of outdoor workers to exercise great care when it comes to the disposal/burning of plants.
Source: Safety+Health, “Avoid poisonous plants when working outdoors,” June 26, 2016