Area/Unit/Location: Parks Australia –
Australian National Botanic Gardens / Project/Job Name/No: JSA - / Team Leader:
Work Activity/Task: Jumping Jack Ant (Myrmecia spp.) stings / Staff consulted:
Paul Stevenson / Signature: / Date:
Date to commence: Jan 2007 / Date of JSA: Mar 2007
Prepared by: Nola Sloan & Peter Lehmann
Signature:
Item / TASKS
Break the job down into logical steps. / HAZARDS
How can people be injured? / RISKS
Low/Moderate/
High/Extreme / CONTROLS
Best way to prevent injury / Person Responsible for actions /
1. / General Safety Notice / Jumping Jack Ant sting. / Extreme / Myrmecia spp. stings can cause allergic reactions, anaphylactic shock and fatal anaphylaxis.
Jumping Jack Ants are part of the Gardens ecosystems and people will certainly come in contact with them. Those particularly at risk include Plant Records, Horticulture and Nursery staff, and visitors to the Gardens.
· The ANBG has a Jack Jumper Ants Strategy which informs staff and visitors about avoiding ants, stings and appropriate treatment of stings. It can be found on the ANBG web site.
· The ANBG has a report, Jack Jumper Ants in the Australian National Botanic Gardens by Taylor RW (2002). / Management, supervisors, employees and visitors
2. / Actions to avoid stings – identify the ants and the hazard / Jumping Jack Ant sting. / Extreme / · Staff and visitors informed about Jumping Jack Ants and what to do in event of a sting. Be alert.
· Staff trained in identifying the 4 species of Myrmecia found in the ANBG.
· Jack Jumper Ants Strategy available to staff and visitors.
· Jack Jumper Ants in the Australian National Botanic Gardens by Taylor RW (2002) available to staff and visitors. / Management, supervisors, employees and visitors
3. / Actions to avoid stings – Plan outdoor activities / Jumping Jack Ant sting. / Extreme / · Horticulture staff inspect identified high and medium risk areas within the ANBG on a regular basis. Nests are marked and treated.
· Jumping Jack Ants are most active and aggressive from mid-August to mid-March.
· Avoid active times in areas of known high nest density
· Pre-inspect work site/location. Existing markers, preferred habitats, foraging, nests, other hazards, including Bulldog Ant nests.
· Mark nest locations in garden beds and high risk areas of the ANBG.
· Relocate the work activity, retime the activity. / Supervisors, employees
4. / Actions to avoid stings – Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) / Jumping Jack Ant sting. / Extreme / · Personal protective equipment reduces the area of exposed skin. and therefore reduces the risk of being stung.
· Personal protective equipment also gives people more time to react if they are exposed to Jumping Jack Ants.
Useful personal protective equipment includes:
· Durable and sturdy gloves. Jumping Jack Ants are less inclined to sting through latex gloves.
· Long sleeve shirts with tight wrist bands, made from a thick dense fabric.
· Long trousers with tight ankle bands and ant proof zippers, made from thick dense fabric. Teflon liquid or spray to trousers.
· Overalls with tight wrist and ankle bands, ant proof zippers, made from thick dense fabric.
· Gumboots with trouser leg tucked inside boot. Gaiters. / Supervisors, employees
5. / Actions to avoid stings – Treat nests / Jumping Jack Ant sting. / Extreme / · Spray nests in identified high risk areas / Horticulture staff
6. / Actions to minimise allergic reactions and avoid anaphylactic shock and fatal anaphylaxis / Allergic reaction to Jumping Jack Ant sting. / Extreme / Reactions and what to do if stung by a Jack Jumper Ant is outlined below. This information is predominantly from the Australian Society of Clinical immunology and Allergy inc. web article ‘Jack Jumper Ant Allergy – a uniquely Australian Problem’ and the ANBG Jack Jumper Ant Strategy.
a. Common reactions
· Local swelling
· Minor irritation at the site which can last hours or days
What to do?
· Apply ice
· Apply Stingose, which is an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory cream.
· If necessary, take a pain killer (not supplied by the Department)
· If necessary, take an antihistamine tablet (not supplied by the Department)
· Inform your supervisor or another staff member
· Ensure you are monitored in case more symptoms develop
b. Moderate-Large Local Reactions
· The area becomes itchy and swollen, possibly for several days. Sometimes very extensive swelling may arise. eg, the whole limb becomes hot and swollen for several days
What to do?
· Take measures as in a. Common reactions
· Applying a cortisone cream (not supplied by the Department) and covering with a band aid or “Gladwrap” may help
· Review by a medical practitioner is advised, particularly if severe or there is a suspicion that the site may be infected.
· People that have large local reactions rarely develop life threatening reactions despite repeated stings
c. Anaphylaxis - severe allergic reaction (displayed or predicted)
Within minutes of being stung a person can experience potentially life-threatening symptoms, including:
· Difficulty/noisy breathing
· Swelling of tongue
· Swelling/tightness in throat
· Difficulty talking and/or hoarse voice
· Wheeze or persistent cough
· Chest tightness
· Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea
· Drop in blood pressure
· Dizziness
· All over hives
· Confusion, loss of consciousness and/or collapse
· Becoming pale and floppy (in young children)
In some cases, anaphylaxis is preceded by less dangerous allergic symptoms, such as:
· Swelling of face, lips and eyes
· Congestion and watering of the nose and eyes
· Hives or welts on the skin
· Headaches, anxiety, flushing
What to do?
· Call an ambulance and get assistance from a First Aid Officer.
· Adrenaline (EpiPen) by injection is the only drug that will work in this situation. NB: Adrenaline must be prescribed by a medical professional.
· Staff with a known anaphylactic shock response will have received an EpiPen from their doctor (containing adrenaline) to be self administered or administered by staff who have completed a St John EpiPen training course
· People experiencing anaphylaxis may need more than one dose of adrenaline. Even if the adrenaline has been highly effective at relieving symptoms, continue to seek emergency medical care without delay.
· People that have had a serious allergic reaction should be held at medical care under continuous observation for at least four hours until all abnormal symptoms and signs disappear. / Management, supervisors, employees and visitors
7. / Report incident / Jumping Jack Ant sting. / High / · Report all stings on an Incident Report form.
· Pass incident report form onto your supervisor on the day of the sting.
· Where any reaction is observed, an Incident Report should be brought to the attention of your supervisor within 2 hours of the sting.
· The designated ANBG Incident Report Officer is currently Paul Janssens. He will inform Comcare as required. / Management, supervisors, employees
List of referenced policies, codes of practice, standards, guides and specific legislation:
· The ANBG Jack Jumper Ants Strategy
· Jack Jumper Ants in the Australian National Botanic Gardens by Taylor RW (2002)
· Dr Raymond J Mullins (2001) Anaphylaxis Information Sheet: Adults and Children Version 13, John James Medical Centre, ACT
· Dr Raymond J Mullins (1999) Bite and sting information sheet: version 13 , John James Medical Centre, ACT
· The Australian Society of clinical immunology and allergy inc. (2005) Information Bulletin: Jack Jumper Ant Allergy – a uniquely Australian Problem, http://www.medeserv.com.au/ascia/aer/infobulletins/jumper_ant.htm [Accessed 28 February 2007].
List of training requirements of personnel undertaking work:
· Identifying the 4 species of Myrmecia ants in the Gardens, including Bulldog Ants
· St John Epipen training for designated First Aid Officers
· Dealing with an emergency involving anaphylaxis
Reviewed by:______/____/____ Supervisor/Project Manager Signature Date
Job Safety Analysis Jack Jumper Ants 070321.doc Page: 2 of 11
ACTIVITY / Jumping Jack Ant Stings /DATE
/ 29/1/07PURPOSE / To provide guidelines and procedures for the avoidance of Jumping Jack Ants, and treatment of stings
Activity Hazards
· Identify Jumping Jack Ants
· Knowledge of Jumping Jack Ant activity/behaviour
· Adequate Personal Protective Equipment
· Working alone
· Persons with known allergic reaction
· Availability of EpiPen, and persons to administer
Personal Protective Equipment
Appropriate clothing
Activity Procedure
As a result of a Job Safety Analysis these guidelines may need to be varied in response to identified hazards caused by the local situation and/or the environment.
A. General Requirements
· All staff familiarised with “ANBG Jack Jumper Ant Strategy” and report “Jack Jumper Ants in the ANBG”
· Always be alert
· Horticulture staff inspect high and medium risk areas regularly
· Always mark nests and report those in high and medium risk areas to Horticultural staff
· Be aware of when Jumping Jack Ants are most active/aggressive
· Avoid active times in areas of known high nest density
· Always pre-inspect work site/location before starting a job
· Always take care when disturbing soil
· Always wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment
· Notify First Aid Officer if a reaction develops
· Always provide Incident Report
B. Special Requirements
· Always monitor Persons with known allergic response
· Epipen always available
· Person to administer EpiPen always available
Common Environmental Issues and Examples
Refer to JSA ( ) for further details and controls
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