Poison Ivy, Sumac,

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Poison Ivy,Sumac, Poison Oak

• Construction Site Work Hazard

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Poison Ivy
Definition

• A vine or shrub
• Trifoliate leaves and whitish berries
• Causes severe dermatitis when touched by persons
  sensitive to it
• Grows everywhere
• except Hawaii Alaska

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Poison Oak
Definition

• Resembles poison ivy
• Causes a rash upon contact
• Three leaflets, small green flowers, and whitish
  berries
• Two Distinct Kinds
• Eastern Poison Oak
• (NJ to Texas)
• Western Poison Oak
• (Pacific Coast)

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Sumac
Definition

• Various shrubs or small trees
• Each leaf has clusters of 7 to 13 smooth-edged
  leaflets
• Clusters of small greenish flowers, and usually
  red, hairy fruit
• Grows in standing water in the Northeast and
  Midwest and in swampy areas in the Southeast
• Can reach heights up to 15 feet tall

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Contamination

• To be allergic, you must be in contact with the
  plant once for sensitization to the oils
• The next contact with the plant a reaction can
  occur

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The Rash
AHHHHHH!! IT ITCHES!
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Cases
Just a few examples

• On the construction site
• Contact while clearing the lot
• Use of tools that have not been properly cleaned
  after coming in contact with the poison
• Burning the poisonous plant and coming in contact
  with the contaminated air

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Prevention

• Teach worker what the plant looks like
• Wear long pants and long sleeves when outside in
  woods or yard
• Wash clothes and shoes immediately after being
  outside
• Do not touch a pet that might have been in a
  poison plant
• Wash hands thoroughly

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Causes

• Resin in plant contains an oily substance
• Easily transferable from plants to other objects,
  including animals and tools
• Chemical can remain active for a year or longer
• Important oils can be transferred from clothing,
  pets, or smoke of a burning plant

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The Reaction
Symptoms

• Usually contains dermatitis
• May occur several hours, days, or even weeks
  after exposure
• A rash followed by bumps and blisters that itch
• Swelling occurs in the area of contact
• Eventually, blisters break, ooze, and then crust
  over

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Treatment

• No cure once the rash starts
• Best treatment is avoiding contact
• Cleanse with an ordinary soap within 6 hrs after
  initial exposure
• Repeat cleaning with soap 3 times
• Alcohol-based wipes can also be used to remove
  oil from the skin

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Treatment

• For itching, use calamine lotion or bath in
  Aveeno bath
• Notify your physician if rash and blisters are on
  the face or all over your body
• A steroid cream or injection may be prescribed to
  help with the swelling and itching

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Spreading

• CANNOT spread from person to person by touching
  the blisters or the fluid inside the blisters
• Oils remaining on skin, clothes, or shoes CAN
  spread the poison

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Identifying
Poison Oak and Poison Ivy

• Compound leaves consist of three pointed leaflets
• The middle leaflet has a much longer stalk than
  the two side ones

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Identifying
Poison Oak and Poison Ivy

• Color in Spring reddish
• Color in Summer green
• Color in Fall orange or red

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Identifying
Poison Oak and Poison Ivy

• Small greenish flowers grow in bunches attached
  to main stem close to wear each leaf joins it
• Clusters of poisonous, berry-like drupes form
  that are whitish, with a waxy look

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Field Images

• Poison Oak

Spring
Summer
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Field Images

• Poison Sumac

Berries
Spring
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Field Images

• Poison Ivy

Vine
On Ground
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Recap

• Contains poisonous sap
• Sap released when plant is bruised these plants
  are very fragile
• Stems or leaves can be damaged by wind, animals,
  or insects
• About 85 of the population will develop an
  allergy if exposed to these plants