Tick alarm at the workplace: how to protect yourself against these little dangers

The rising temperatures not only herald the start of the outdoor season, but also the peak season for ticks. People who work outdoors a lot – for example in forestry and agriculture, in gardening and landscaping, on construction sites or in the utilities sector – are particularly susceptible to ticks. The small parasites are capable of transmitting diseases such as Lyme disease or the dangerous tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) through their bites. This is why it is especially important to protect yourself properly in the workplace.

Why are ticks so dangerous?

Most ticks lurk in tall grasses, bushes and forests, but can also be found in city parks. They can bite without you noticing and carry pathogens into the bloodstream. A bite can have serious health repercussions, particularly in TBE risk areas, such as parts of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Hesse and Thuringia. The risk areas continue to grow, meaning that the danger for the population in other regions is also increasing. Since ticks can be active all year round, protection in work clothing is essential.

Effective protective measures for everyday work

The following measures are helpful in providing the best possible protection against ticks:

• Wear protective clothing: long work clothes with tight cuffs prevent ticks from reaching the skin easily. Special impregnated clothing can offer additional protection.
• Suitable footwear: high work shoes or boots make it difficult for ticks to get a hold.
• Use tick repellent: special sprays can be applied to the skin and clothing to repel ticks.
• Regular body checks: the entire body should be checked for ticks after completing work, particularly the back of the knees, groin area and neck.
• Safe removal: in the event that a tick does bite, it should be removed quickly and properly using tick tweezers or a tick card.

Our products for your protection

We offer a range of suitable products to ensure that you and your team are well armed against ticks:

• High-quality work clothing with tick protection features such as gaiters
• Sturdy work shoes with a high shaft
• Effective tick sprays for skin and clothing

Ticks present a serious danger, but you can minimise the risk with the right protective measures and suitable work clothing.

Find out why mosquitoes and ticks bite us, which factors attract them and why they play a part in our natural balance here in our blog post.