Here are some tips for outdoor workers and their employers to help keep workers safe from mosquito-borne illnesses, including: Zika virus, West Nile virus, Chikungunya virus, dengue and malaria.

1. SAFETY TIP:
Protect Workers from Mosquito-borne Diseases
Warm summer weather - and mosquitoes - are just around
the corner in much of the U.S. Many areas have recently
experienced flooding that may bring bumper crops of the
pesky pests. Here are some tips from NIOSH to help keep
outdoor workers safe from mosquito-borne illnesses.
Employers should protect workers and workers should
protect themselves from diseases spread by
mosquitoes. Although most people do not become sick
after a bite from an infected mosquito, some people
have a mild, short-term illness or (rarely) severe or
long-term illness. Severe cases of mosquito-borne
diseases can cause death. Diseases that are spread to
people by mosquitoes include Zika virus, West Nile virus,
Chikungunya virus, dengue and malaria.
Workers at Risk
Workers are at risk when they are working where
mosquitoes are biting. Different species of mosquitoes
are found in different geographic locations, are most active at different times, and spread different
diseases. The risk to workers varies by:
 Geographic location
 Habitat at the work site
 Season
 Time of day
Workers at risk of being bitten by mosquitoes are those who spend time outdoors, including farmers,
foresters, landscapers, groundskeepers, gardeners, painters, roofers, pavers, construction workers,
laborers, mechanics, entomologists, wildlife biologists and field workers. Laboratory and clinical workers
who handle infected fluids or tissues may also be at risk of infection. Transmission may occur through a
break in their skin or via a sharp penetration injury.
What Employers Should Do
Mosquitoes breed in standing water. To decrease mosquito
populations at worksites:
 Remove, turn over, cover or store equipment
 Remove debris from ditches
 Fill in ruts and other areas that collect standing water
 Remove tires, buckets, bottles and barrels that collect
water
 Place drain holes in containers that collect water and cannot
be discarded

2. Employers can keep mosquitoes out of indoor worksites by ensuring that doors and windows
have screens and are kept closed when possible. Employers should also protect workers by providing:
 Training about: the risk of exposure to mosquitoes; how they can protect themselves from
mosquito bites; symptoms of diseases spread by mosquitoes
 Protective clothing, including long-sleeved shirts and long pants
 EPA-registered insect repellents to use on exposed skin and clothing
What Workers Should Do
Workers can reduce their risk of mosquito bites while working outdoors by:
 Helping to reduce sources of standing water
 Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants
 Using EPA-registered insect repellents on exposed skin and clothing, as directed on the
product labels
Workers who develop symptoms of a mosquito-borne disease should report this promptly to their
supervisor and get medical attention.
Resources:
 Insect Repellent Use & Safety information
 NIOSH Tick and Mosquito Protection Fact Sheet (pdf)
 EPA Mosquito Control page
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