Spooky Safety

Were you wondering how the NIOSH Science Blog was going to tie in to Halloween? After all, if we have something to say about National Doughnut Day, there has to be a connection to Halloween, right? For us, the problem was picking which horrifying hazard to highlight.

Well, we aren’t going to talk about the hazards related to candy manufacturing or those facing haunted house workers (think shiftwork or chainsaw noise). We won’t discuss the workplace challenges faced by Mummies (see: Safer and Healthier at Any Age), vampires, the headless horseman, witches, werewolves (must be clean shaven to pass a respirator fit test), haunted pirates, or those working or cohabiting with bats. We won’t get into preparing for a zombie apocalypse or touch on what doom awaits if you walk under a ladder. We won’t even discuss hazards faced by firefighters putting out Devil’s Night fires or the potential musculoskeletal disorders faced by pumpkin farmers or grave diggers.

So what’s left? We can’t forget about the Halloween staple– SPIDERS!  Yes, venomous spiders, venomous snakes, and stinging or biting insects can all pose hazards to outdoor workers including farmers, foresters, landscapers, groundskeepers, gardeners, painters, roofers, pavers, construction workers, laborers, mechanics, and any other workers who spend time outside. If you know someone who works or supervises in these areas, direct them to our spider, insect, and snake web pages or share one of our venomous spider cards with them on Facebook.

Have a scary and safe Halloween! (And of course let us know of any Halloween hazards we missed in the comment section below.)

Julie Tisdale-Pardi, MA

Ms. Tisdale-Pardi is the NIOSH Science Blog Coordinator