Poison Ivy As An Occupational Hazard

Posted on December 8, 2022 at 3:18 PM by Tom Swegle

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Most people think poison ivy, poison sumac, and poison oak leaves are hazards faced by campers, hunters, and hikers. For many workers in various industries, these plants are a real occupational hazard they face daily while performing their jobs and providing for their families. One or more of these plants are present in every one of the continental United States and through much of Canada. Luckily for them, there is Outdoor Joe's® (formerly Rhus Tox), an easy-to-use homeopathic remedy to prevent allergic skin irritation before it even starts. 

Jobs Where Poison Ivy Is A Common Threat

The Logging Industry

We think of poison ivy rash as something weekend warriors get while engaging in outdoor adventures and outdoor activities. However, no other profession has people in the forests and woods of North America as often as the logging industry. These men and women face dangers from rough terrain, bad weather, and sharp and dangerous logging equipment. However, they also face running into poison oak, poison sumac, and poison ivy plants depending on their location. 

With the hard labor that goes into day-to-day work as a logger, the last thing a woodcutter wants is to brush up against a poison ivy plant. The toxin urushiol found in these plants is incredibly persistent and strong, making it hard to protect your skin from the allergic reaction to these plants. Treating poison ivy rash on the job site is inconvenient, difficult, and often ineffective post-exposure. The best poison ivy treatment is one that prevents the reaction, making Outdoor Joe's® a logger's best friend in fighting urushiol-containing plants. 

Landscaping & Lawncare

We tend to think that poison ivy and its relatives are plants that live in secluded forests and woods. And while you will definitely find them there, they thrive in towns and cities as well. Landscapers and lawn care professionals are often exposed to these toxins in their daily work without realizing it until their skin breaks out in a painful rash. 

Lawncare experts use gas and electric-powered equipment such as mowers, brush cutters, and string trimmers to maintain and beautify lawns. When transforming a neglected property or working on properties near wooded areas, these pieces of equipment can chop and scatter clippings of poison ivy plants, depositing them on the skin or clothing of the worker. Because the toxins are long-lasting, these workers may get exposed immediately or at the end of the day when they remove their contaminated work clothes.

Landscapers often maintain a variety of properties just like lawn care professionals do. Sometimes this job also includes digging up and removing brush from neglected properties or working near wooded areas that border a residential home. Properties near parks, creeks, and wooded areas may see the intrusion of poison ivy plants in flower beds and among hedgerows. As these flower beds are maintained or hedges trimmed, landscapers may become exposed just like their lawn care counterparts.

Utility Workers

The hardworking people that maintain our infrastructure often find themselves in rural parts of the country. When storms take down power lines in the countryside, power utility workers often work alongside wooded areas or near the ditches on country roads. These are ideal places for poison ivy and its relatives to thrive. While repairing downed electrical lines or electrical poles, it is very easy for workers to brush up against poison ivy plants and be exposed to urushiol.

Rural Mail Carriers & Package Delivery Professionals

America relies on the logistics professionals that deliver our mail and packages. While city carriers have a lower risk of exposure, the mail carriers and delivery drivers that service rural America are at a high risk of being exposed to poison ivy while bringing us the important mail and packages we count on. Our delivery people also tend to wear short sleeves and short pants to cope with the hot temperatures of summer, depriving them of any protection against immediate exposure to the toxins in poison ivy plants. 

The Best Poison Ivy Treatment Is Prevention

The best way to treat poison ivy rash is to prevent poison ivy rash. As we have seen, poison ivy is something that many outdoor professionals need to be aware of, not just weekend warriors enjoying their outdoor lifestyle. Outdoor Joe's® is a completely safe and homeopathic way to build up protection against the painful allergic rash most people get when exposed to poison ivy. 

Soon it will be spring and poison ivy will be in its growing season, so the sooner you start taking Outdoor Joe's®, the stronger your protection will be. Use it alone with our sister product, Barrier Balm as part of a comprehensive skin treatment to prevent not just poison ivy rash but also prevent chafing and dryness that can come from a hard day’s labor. Outdoor Joe's® and Barrier Balm also make a great gift for outdoor enthusiasts and workers any time of the year! 

Wherever Poison Ivy Grows, Outdoor Joe's® Goes
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