Secure Your Summer: 3 Essential Safety Reminders
- ac0913
- Jul 20
- 2 min read
As summer gets busier, safety practices can easily slip to the back of our minds—but they should stay front and center. With longer days and increasing demands this summer, it's important to stay alert to these 3 workplace risks: tick bites, toxic plants, and the added strain of doing more with fewer hands, both on and off the job.
At the New Brunswick Forest Safety Association, we know how preparation is key to prevention. Here’s what to watch for and how to respond.
1. Tiny threat: ticks
Ticks may be small, but the risks they carry—especially Lyme disease—are serious. These tiny pests thrive in tall grass, shrubs, and forest undergrowth and are active throughout the summer.
Why it matters:
New Brunswick is considered a Lyme disease risk area.
Ticks can be active anytime the temperature is above 4° C, but peak activity is from April to September.
Symptoms of Lyme disease include rash, fever, fatigue, and joint pain, and it can become chronic if untreated.
How to protect yourself:
Wear light-coloured clothing to spot ticks more easily.
Tuck pants into socks and shirts into pants.
Use insect repellent with DEET or Icaridin.
Do a daily tick check, especially on the legs, waist, neck, and behind the ears.
View images: How to spot ticks and remove them: Ticks in Canada - Canada.ca
2. Hazardous Plants
Forestry and warehouse workers may encounter toxic or irritating plants that cause skin reactions or respiratory issues.
Top culprits in NB:
Poison Ivy – Causes red, itchy rashes.
Giant Hogweed – Highly toxic; contact can cause blistering and even long-term scarring.
Learn to identify them: CCOHS: Landscaping - Poisonous Plants
Safety tips:
Wear long sleeves and gloves when working in overgrown or brushy areas.
Wash tools and clothing after exposure.
If skin contact occurs, wash thoroughly with soap and water and avoid sun exposure on the area.
3. Labour Shortages and Worker Fatigue
Overall, many forestry operations and warehouses are feeling the strain of labour shortages, but it is especially noticeable during the summer because of seasonal absences or recruitment challenges. In sum, fewer hands-on deck can lead to:
Longer shifts and increased fatigue
Rushed jobs that increase the risk of injury
Burnout and low morale, which can affect safety and productivity
What you can do:
Employers: Focus on realistic schedules, clear communication, and proper training for newer or reassigned workers.
Workers: Speak up when feeling overloaded and prioritize rest and hydration.
Everyone: Be alert to signs of fatigue-related errors, like slowed reaction times or forgetting routine safety steps.
Job rotations, task sharing, and shorter work intervals in extreme heat are good practices to reduce fatigue-related risk.
Safety is a team effort
Safety shouldn’t take a back seat in New Brunswick even with fewer people. By staying informed, looking out for one another, and following best practices, we can keep operations running smoothly and safely.
Need more training support to improve your workplace safety? Contact NBFSA today. We offer specialized training, online modules and safety audits to the forest sector and many industries:
Visit: www.nbfsa.ca
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