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Straight
Track #275
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The Bugs Are Back In Town
Hoey & Farina
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The warm, sunny days of
summer are back! And, so are the insects! Some insects are a nuisance
when working outdoors, but some insects can actually be quite dangerous
to your health.
RAILROAD'S DUTY TO PROVIDE A SAFE WORK PLACE
The railroad has a duty to
provide you with a safe work environment. This duty still applies when
working outdoors and facing possible exposure to disease-carrying
insects, poisonous foliage or extreme heat. If, after having notice of
stagnant pools of water, ticks in an area, extreme temperatures with no
means to keep hydrated, etc., the railroad fails to take action to
provide a safe work environment, it may be held liable if you become
sick.
In the landmark case of
Gallick v. Baltimore & Ohio R. R. Co., the railroad allowed a
stagnant pool to remain next to its tracks in Ohio where many dead
animals lay. Gallick, a railroad worker, was bitten by an insect next to
the pool, sustained an infection and eventually had both legs amputated.
The Supreme Court affirmed a verdict for this railroader holding that
the railroad had a duty to protect against such hazards.
The Long Island Railroad was
also held liable for failure to provide protection against ticks when it
knew or should have known its maintenance of way workers were exposed to
ticks, whose bites caused the workers to contract
Lyme Disease.
THE RAILROAD ON NOTICE
Although the railroad has a
duty to inspect for signs of problems, reporting these
unsafe
conditions keeps the railroad from “overlooking” these matters and
puts the railroad on notice. Reporting these unsafe conditions imposes
upon the railroad the responsibility to take actions to protect you and
your co-workers in your work environment. If the railroad then fails to
take action to correct the unsafe conditions and you become sick, the
evidence of written notice to the railroad will support your potential
Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA) claim.
It's important if you are at
work and see unsafe conditions such as standing water, insect
infestations, dead animals, etc., you report it to railroad management.
Be sure to detail where the problem is located in the yard or where you
are required to work and are exposed to the unsafe condition.
KNOW THE PROBLEMS AND HOW
TO AVOID THEM
If you know you've been
bitten by a mosquito or a tick, don't confuse the symptoms with the flu.
(Additional information on
Vector Borne Diseases is available from Carol Menges, President, UTU
Ladies Auxiliary.)
MOSQUITOES & WEST NILE VIRUS
Most people will be bitten by
mosquitoes and have no problems, even if they are infected with the West
Nile Virus. Only a small percentage of people develop mild symptoms
which could include: fever; headache; body aches; fatigue; upset
stomach; swollen glands or skin rash. An even smaller percentage of
people may develop more serious symptoms which could include: stiff
neck; high fever; severe headache; convulsions or disorientation.
Symptoms of West Nile Virus may not be noticeable for up to 2 to 15 days
after exposure. Symptoms of a mild case may only last for a few days,
while symptoms of a severe case may last much longer and cause permanent
harm such as neurological damage.
TICKS & LYME DISEASE
You don't have to be in the
deep forest to be bitten by a tick. When outdoors, take as many
precautions as possible: use bug repellent with deet for clothing & skin
- repellents with permethrin are for clothing only; wear light-colored
clothing; wear long sleeves & long pants; wear a hat; and tuck pant legs
into socks.
After you've been outdoors, promptly check your body and clothing for
ticks, preferably before going indoors. Ticks can crawl on your body for
up to several hours before actually biting you, commonly on your scalp,
neck, behind the ears, underarms or back of your knees. The quicker a
tick is removed from your body, the less likely you will develop
symptoms of Lyme Disease.
If you are bitten and the tick is still attached to your skin, use sharp
tweezers, near its head or mouth, to carefully remove the whole tick. Do
not use heat or petroleum jelly. If you are unable to remove the whole
tick, contact your doctor. It's also a good idea to save the tick in a
sealed container to show your doctor in case you develop symptoms.
Once the tick is removed from your body, use soap and water to wash your
hands and the area around the tick bite. For extra precaution, swab the
bite area with rubbing alcohol.
Symptoms from a tick bite may not be noticeable for 3 to 30 days, but
can be easily treated with antibiotics. If after you've been bitten by a
tick you develop any of the following symptoms, call your doctor
immediately: rash at site of bite which may look like a bull's eye;
fever / chills; stiff neck; body aches; joint pain / inflammation;
swollen glands or flu-like symptoms.
If you develop any of the more severe symptoms such as: severe headache;
difficulty breathing; chest pain / heart palpitations; or paralysis,
don't wait for a doctor appointment, call 911. Left untreated, Lyme
Disease can result in permanent arthritis and in the most rare, extreme
cases can cause damage to the central nervous system.
TAKE THE STING OUT OF SUMMER
Take action now to prevent
becoming ill due to being stung or bitten by insects while working in an
unsafe environment. Report unsafe conditions to your railroad!
If you have questions
regarding this subject or believe you may have become ill due to having
worked in an unsafe environment, please contact Hoey & Farina at (888)
425-1212.
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