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Killer Bees, Wasps, and Spiders

37 minutesENSafety TrainingOSHA General Duty Clause, 29 CFR 1910.38 (Emergency Action Plans), 29 CFR 1910.151 (First Aid)
Quick Answer

Killer Bees, Wasps, and Spiders is a 15-minute online course that trains outdoor and field workers to identify, avoid, and respond to stinging insect and venomous spider encounters in the workplace. It is designed for employees who work outdoors or in environments where these biological hazards are present, and includes a downloadable certificate of completion.

Course Overview

Insect stings and spider bites are a significant occupational hazard for outdoor workers across construction, landscaping, agriculture, utilities, and public works. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, contact with insects, spiders, and other arthropods results in thousands of workplace injuries requiring medical treatment each year, and hornet, wasp, and bee stings are among the leading causes of fatal anaphylaxis in the United States. The CDC reports that an average of 62 deaths per year are caused by stings from hornets, wasps, and bees. OSHA's General Duty Clause requires employers to protect workers from recognized biological hazards, including stinging insects in outdoor work environments. Workers who are allergic to insect venom face life-threatening risk from a single sting if epinephrine is not available on-site.

This course prepares your outdoor and field employees to recognize stinging insect and venomous spider hazards, take preventive measures to avoid encounters, and respond appropriately when stings or bites occur. Your team will learn identification of Africanized honey bees, common wasp species, and dangerous spiders (brown recluse and black widow); preventive work practices including nest awareness, clothing choices, and scent avoidance; and emergency response procedures including anaphylaxis recognition and epinephrine auto-injector use. The training ensures your crews know what to do before, during, and after an encounter with these common biological hazards.

What You'll Learn

  • Identification of Africanized honey bees, paper wasps, yellow jackets, hornets, and other stinging species
  • Identification of brown recluse and black widow spiders and their typical habitats
  • Preventive work practices: nest awareness, clothing, scent avoidance, and work area inspection
  • What to do during a bee swarm encounter: protective actions and escape procedures
  • First aid for stings and bites including stinger removal and monitoring for allergic reactions
  • Anaphylaxis recognition and emergency epinephrine auto-injector procedures
  • Employer responsibilities for emergency action plans and medical response in remote work areas

Who Needs This Training

  • Construction workers, roofers, and tradespeople working in outdoor or semi-enclosed environments
  • Landscaping and grounds maintenance crews
  • Agricultural workers and farmhands
  • Utility line workers, meter readers, and field service technicians
  • Public works and municipal road crew employees
  • Warehouse and storage facility workers in areas where spiders are prevalent

Regulatory Background

While no specific OSHA standard addresses stinging insects or spiders, OSHA's General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1)) requires employers to provide workplaces free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm. For outdoor employers, stinging insects and venomous spiders qualify as recognized biological hazards, particularly in geographic areas where Africanized honey bees, brown recluse spiders, or black widow spiders are established. The CDC reports an average of 62 deaths per year from hornet, wasp, and bee stings in the United States, with allergic anaphylaxis being the primary mechanism. OSHA also requires employers to establish emergency action plans (29 CFR 1910.38) and ensure access to first aid (29 CFR 1910.151), both of which are directly relevant when employees work in areas with insect and arachnid hazards. Employers who fail to train outdoor workers on these hazards or to maintain emergency response capability risk General Duty Clause citations carrying penalties up to $16,550 for serious violations.

Frequently Asked Questions

OSHA does not have a specific standard for biological hazards from insects or spiders. However, the General Duty Clause requires employers to protect workers from recognized hazards, and for outdoor work environments, stinging insects and venomous spiders are recognized hazards. Employers should include insect and spider awareness in their safety training programs, particularly for workers in construction, landscaping, agriculture, and utilities.
Africanized honey bees (often called killer bees) are more aggressive in defending their colonies. They respond to perceived threats in greater numbers, pursue threats over longer distances (up to a quarter mile), and remain agitated longer than European honey bees. A single sting is no more venomous than a regular honey bee sting, but the sheer volume of stings during a swarm attack can be fatal even to individuals without venom allergies.
Employers should consider providing epinephrine auto-injectors as part of their first aid kit for field crews working in areas where stinging insects are prevalent. Employees with known insect venom allergies should carry prescribed auto-injectors and inform supervisors of their allergy. Some states allow employers to stock undesignated epinephrine auto-injectors for emergency use. First aid responders on the crew should be trained in auto-injector administration.
Brown recluse spiders prefer dry, undisturbed areas including woodpiles, storage boxes, seldom-used closets, and construction debris. They are most common in the south-central and southeastern United States. Black widow spiders are found throughout the U.S. and prefer dark, sheltered locations including under rocks, in meter boxes, inside equipment housings, and around outdoor structures. Workers should wear gloves when reaching into concealed spaces and inspect materials before handling.
The immediate response is to run away from the swarm as quickly as possible. Workers should cover their mouth and nose while running and seek shelter inside a vehicle or building. They should never jump into water, as bees will wait for the person to surface. Once safely away from the swarm, workers should remove stingers by scraping (not pinching) and seek medical attention. Anyone experiencing shortness of breath, swelling of the throat, dizziness, or hives should receive emergency medical treatment immediately.
$29.95
per person
Volume Pricing
Team Size Price per Person
1 - 9$29.95
10 - 24$23.95
25 - 49$21.55
50 - 99$17.50
Subtotal $29.95

Certificate of completion included. Downloadable upon passing the final assessment.

$29.95
per person