Navigating Toxic Plants Essential Safety Tips for Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac By Ariel Slick
Encountering toxic plants such as poison ivy, oak, or sumac may be inevitable in the tree care industry, but suffering from them is not. With pre- ventative measures, knowledge and education, and prioritizing safety, workers can protect themselves from these itchy pests. Exposure to toxic plants can lead to an itchy rash, blisters, and swelling, but it can also be more serious. Other severe symptoms that require immediate medical attention are difficulty breathing, a rash around the mouth, eyes, or genitals, swelling on the face, a rash on more than 25% of the body, or fever. According to the American Skin Association, approximately 10-15% of the population is highly allergic. “While prevalence may seem minor, it can easily become serious enough to warrant medical atten- tion, which is why poison ivy and poison oak should be some of the first plants a tree worker learns to identify,” said Blake Watkins, ISA Board Certified Master Arborist (BCMA), Registered Consulting Arborist (RCA), and operations partner at Monster Tree Service , said.
Common poisonous plants in the tree care industry are poison oak , ivy, and sumac, but stinging nettles, giant hogweed , and wild parsnip also pose threats. Some trees, like hawthorn, Black locust, and some varieties of honey locust have long thorns that can easily pierce the skin. Although the trees themselves are not poisonous, the thorns of Black Locust and Hawthorn are host to a number of different bacteria that can cause se- rious allergic reactions if the skin is punctured. “Your safety and your crew’s safety are always num- ber one,” Ben McCallister, urban forestry specialist at Purdue University, said. McCallister reports an encounter one of his workers had when a small sliver of thorn was accidentally le beneath the skin when he was pricked by a Black Locust thorn. “He almost had to amputate the finger,” McCallister said. “He had to take two or three months off work.” UNDERSTANDING THE RISKS Poison oak, ivy, and sumac all produce the oil,
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