Anybody can be at risk of poisonous plants when working or spending time outside. Employees may be exposed to the toxins from direct contact or inhalation of the particles. You may also be at risk through non direct contact with any tools or items that the poisonous plant has touched.  

Employees may develop skin rashes, swelling, itching, and physical manifestations such as bumps or blisters. It is important to be well educated on the first aid procedures in case of an emergency at the workplace or at home.  

Here are some safety first aid procedures:  

If you are exposed to a poisonous plant: 

• Immediately rinse skin with rubbing alcohol, poison plant wash, and lots of water. 
• Rinse frequently so that wash solutions do not dry on the skin and further spread the poison. 
• Scrub under nails with a brush. 
• Apply wet compresses, hydrocortisone cream, or antihistamine to the skin to reduce itching and blistering. 

In severe cases or if the rash is on the face, seek professional medical attention. 

Call 999 or go to a hospital emergency room if you have a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, or have had a severe reaction in the past. 

To minimise the danger around possible poisonous plants, wear long sleeves, trousers and gloves. After use, you should wash each tool with rubbing alcohol, and do not burn plants or brush piles that may contain poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac. Make sure to always wear the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) and stay cautious. 

Employers should include working outside in their risk assessments developed on the iProtectU health and safety software. 

iProtectU provides work environment inspection forms and allows a user to create, edit and document a risk assessment covering working around poisonous plants. 

iProtectU brings together the key resources and knowledge of three companies specialising in EHS software development, health and safety, business intelligence and data analytics. 

Our vision is to provide fully integrated, cost effective and simple to use health and safety software tools that enable our clients to engage their entire team.