The Smallest Threat in the Field Often Poses the Biggest Risk to Your Team
When you think about workplace safety hazards for outdoor professionals, heavy machinery, hazardous materials, and extreme weather conditions likely come to mind first. But there's a threat so small it often goes unnoticed, until it's too late. Ticks, and the Lyme disease they carry, have become one of the most significant health risks facing field workers today.
A Growing Global Threat
What was once considered a seasonal concern has evolved into a year-round issue. Rising global temperatures have extended tick activity periods and expanded their geographic range. Ticks now remain active throughout much of the year, dramatically increasing workers' exposure risk.
The statistics show a concerning situation. Globally, Lyme disease seroprevalence has jumped from approximately 8% in 2001-2010 to 12% in 2011-2021, a significant increase. The regions with the highest infection rates tell us where the problem is most acute:
- Central Europe: 21% of the population
- Western Europe: 13.5%
- Eastern Europe: 10.5%
These aren't just numbers they represent millions of people affected by a preventable occupational hazard. (The BMJ: Leading Medical Research, News, Education, Opinion, n.d.)
But Who's Really at Risk?
If your team works outdoors, they're in the line of fire. The professionals most exposed to tick-borne diseases include:
- Forest rangers and park maintenance workers when they are mowing, pruning, and maintaining parks, verges, and woodlands
- Landscape and green space management teams come on a regular in contact with grass and vegetation
- Road workers that are maintaining grass edges, verges, and natural areas along roadways
- Utility workers who are servicing cables and networks through grassland and shrubland
- logistic personnel who unloads cargo out foreign countries
- Military personnel that are training or executing operations in natural terrain
These aren't occasional encounters. For many outdoor workers, exposure to tick habitats is a daily reality.
The Real Cost of Lyme Disease
A tick bite might seem minor, but Lyme disease's impact is severe. The disease causes persistent fatigue, chronic muscle and joint pain, extended sick leave, and reduced productivity.
For employers, this means increased absenteeism, workers' compensation claims, temporary staffing costs, and potential liability. The human cost of watching valued team members struggle with a preventable illness is immeasurable
Regulatory Recognition: EN 17487:2024
The European workplace safety landscape has evolved to address this growing threat. The new EN 17487:2024 standard formally recognizes tick exposure as an occupational risk and establishes testing specifications for tick-neutralizing textiles. This isn't just another bureaucratic requirement, it's an acknowledgment that tick-borne disease prevention must be part of comprehensive workplace safety programs.
The Solution: Protection Built Into What They Already Wear
The most effective safety measures are the ones workers don't have to remember. Sprays wear off. Lotions get forgotten. But our patented TICKMOKILLER technology integrates tick protection directly into work clothing, creating a seamless defense that lasts all day, every day.
Why TICKMOKILLER Changes the Game
- Seamless Integration
The technology is embedded directly into ppe garments, no sprays, no applications, no user error. Workers put on their clothes and they're protected. It's that simple. - Proven Effectiveness
TICKMOKILLER doesn't just repel ticks; it reduces the risk of bites and subsequent Lyme disease transmission. This means fewer incidents, less sick leave, and healthier teams. - Regulatory Compliance Made Easy
TICKMOKILLER-treated garments can be positioned as conforming to EN 17487:2024 testing specifications, helping employers meet their duty-of-care obligations with documented, effective preventive measures. - Long-Lasting Protection
The technology remains effective for up to 50 wash cycles. This durability means your investment in protective workwear delivers value season after season, making it a cost-effective addition to your PPE program. - Bonus Protection
Beyond ticks, TICKMOKILLER technology also provides protection against mosquitos, adding comfort and safety value that workers will notice and appreciate.
From Reactive to Proactive: Rethinking Tick Safety
Traditional approaches to tick protection put the burden on individual workers: remember to spray, check yourself after work, watch for symptoms. This reactive model fails because it relies on perfect compliance in imperfect conditions.
TICKMOKILLER represents a fundamental shift to proactive protection. By building defense into the clothing itself, you remove the human error factor. Your team is protected from the moment they clock in until they head home, no extra steps, no forgotten applications, no gaps in coverage.
