Tickborne Disease
Standards
This section highlights various OSHA standards, regulations, and documents related to tick bites and tickborne diseases that are considered work-related.
The General Duty Clause of the OSH Act requires employers to provide workers with a safe workplace free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm.
OSHA Standards
Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (29 CFR 1904) |
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1904 Subpart C - Recordkeeping Forms and Recording Criteria | ||
1904.5(a), Determination of work-relatedness. You must consider an injury or illness to be work-related if an event or exposure in the work environment either caused or contributed to the resulting condition or significantly aggravated a pre-existing injury or illness. Work-relatedness is presumed for injuries and illnesses resulting from events or exposures occurring in the work environment unless an exception in 1904.5(b)(2) specifically applies. |
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General Industry (29 CFR 1910) |
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1910 Subpart I - Personal Protective Equipment | ||
1910.132(a), General requirements. Protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers, shall be provided, used, and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever it is necessary by reason of hazards of processes or environment, chemical hazards, radiological hazards, or mechanical irritants encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body through absorption, inhalation, or physical contact. |
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1910 Subpart K - Medical and First Aid | ||
1910.151(a), Medical services and first aid. The employer shall ensure the ready availability of medical personnel for advice and consultation on matters of plant health. |
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Construction (29 CFR 1926) |
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1926 Subpart E - Personal Protective and Life Saving Equipment | ||
1926.95(a), Criteria for personal protective equipment. Protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers, shall be provided, used, and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition wherever it is necessary by reason of hazards of processes or environment, chemical hazards, radiological hazards, or mechanical irritants encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body through absorption, inhalation, or physical contact. |
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Agriculture (29 CFR 1928) |
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1928 Subpart B - Applicability of Standards | ||
1928.21(a), Applicability of Standards in 29 CFR Part 1910 Specifies the standards in part 1910 that apply to agricultural operations (e.g., standards for temporary labor camps and logging operations) |
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Non-mandatory guidelines for small businesses, institutions teaching first aid, and the recipients of first aid training (Longshoring) |
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Bites and stings from insects (spiders, ticks, scorpions, hornets, and wasps). Interventions should include responses to anaphylactic shock; other allergic manifestations; rabies and tetanus prophylaxis. |
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In addition, employers should be aware that section 11(c) of the OSH Act prohibits reprisal against an employee for speaking out about unsafe working conditions or reporting a tick bite or tickborne disease to an employer. The mandatory OSHA regulation at 29 CFR 1904.35(b) also prohibits reprisal against an employee for reporting a work-related injury or illness.
State Standards
There are 29 OSHA-approved State Plans operating state-wide occupational safety and health programs covering state and local government workplaces, 22 of which also cover private sector workers. State Plans are monitored by OSHA and must be at least as effective as OSHA in protecting workers and in preventing work-related injuries, illnesses and deaths.
Standard interpretations
OSHA requirements are set by statute, standards, and regulations. OSHA’s interpretation letters and frequently asked questions (FAQ) below provide information about OSHA requirements under particular circumstances, but they cannot create additional employer obligations.