American dog tick lives on the Fermilab site. Photo courtesy of Fermilab Visual Media Services.

Fermilab employees report that ticks have made their seasonal appearance at the laboratory. The American dog tick is the largest of the Eastern wood ticks, and the most common type found in Illinois. They are most active during the months of April and May. American dog ticks don’t carry Lyme disease, but they can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Deer (or blacklegged) ticks, though rare in this area, can transmit Lyme disease.

There's nothing like a weekend filled with gardening and landscaping activities. But this type of work has plenty of hazards. In a 10-year study of groundskeeper injuries, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that 55 percent of injuries resulted in sprains, strains, bruises, contusions, soreness or pain. The back was the most commonly injured body part followed by fingers, knees and eyes.

With all of Fermilab’s open spaces and natural areas, crossing paths with a wild animal is not unusual. Most of the time, these situations result in mutual observation and both parties part ways, uneventfully. Sometimes, however, creatures need a “hands-on” intervention.

This can occur if an animal takes up residence in a space that’s intended for people or equipment. At other times, we might feel compelled to help an injured animal or one in harm’s way. Other times, such as spring, when most animals mate, nest and raise their young, they can become a nuisance. This can happen particularly when animals conduct these activities in locations intended for people or equipment or when they get aggressive, such as during mating season.

Last week, we talked with three members of the Fermilab community regarding personal experiences that demonstrate that safety techniques can apply to home and work.

Mark Bollinger, DOE deputy site manager at Fermilab, worked with steel framing when finishing his home basement. Bollinger took off his eye protection to wipe his face, but forgot to put it back on. Two minutes later, a razor-sharp piece of steel swung out of place and cut his face, barely missing his eye.

Fermilab is a great place to ride a bicycle. We have interesting scenery, a paved bike path and plenty of lightly-traveled roadways. Unfortunately, when motorists and bicyclists meet, rules of the road and common courtesy can get overlooked. Remember that getting angry, hostile or abusive won't help the situation. Instead, we need to stay calm, exercise caution and show respect for each other, no matter how we're traveling.

It's mating season, the time of year when Canada geese aggressively defend their nests and goslings. This instinctual behavior is understandable in the wild, but problems arise when the nests are in human high-traffic areas, such as near building entrances, and the intruders are people who need to enter those buildings.

If you get near a nest or gosling, you may hear a goose's defensive hiss. This is typically a first warning. If not dissuaded, the birds may charge or even fly at you. The aggressive behavior usually lasts from the time eggs are laid until the offspring take on adult coloring. Close encounters typically occur around Wilson Hall, Industrial Center, Feynman Computing Center and the Village.

At a recent meeting of the Central States Occupational Medicine Association, Dr. Terry Nicola, from the Chicago Medical Center at University of Illinois, gave a presentation on lower back vertebral-disc damage. He noted that each disc is like a chewy jelly donut. It has a central, soft core surrounded by 15 layers of fibrous tissue. In spite of their toughness, the outer layers can rupture causing the contents to leak and press on adjacent nerves. This, in turn, can produce pain and weakness.

Errors often happen when sudden, unfamiliar situations require immediate action. When Associate Director for Accelerators Steve Holmes was 6 years old he decided to go down a steep gravel road on his new bike, and his regular method of braking - dragging his feet - failed. He caught a chin full of gravel. Accelerator Division Senior Safety Officer John Anderson was 12 when he fell through ice after he and a friend decided to walk across a frozen river rather than use a bridge some distance away. Fortunately, he moved toward shore where his friend pulled him out.

In both cases, Holmes and Anderson had completed these activities many times without incident. However, changes affecting the level of risk went unrecognized.

During the past year, some of our most serious injuries occurred when employees attempted to perform tasks that were slightly beyond their normal knowledge, skills or abilities. The reduction in staff created by furloughs might make those at work feel the need to fill in on tasks that they do not normally perform. Here are some suggestions for dealing with increased demands.

For those who work the night shift, the disruption in routine isn’t as easy to fix. Bob Mau, head of AD Operations Department, manages 25 accelerator operators on rotating shifts. According to Mau, “Not everyone is cut out for this kind of work.” Predictors of success in these shifts include youth, experience with shift work, ability to sleep well at all hours, few family commitments and a desire for challenging work.

Most of us at Fermilab have grown tired of repeated snow storms and cold blasts. How do our colleagues from Minnesota stand it? This week, we talked with three Fermilab folks with ties to the state that houses the coldest town in the continental United States. They offer a few tips and observations. They also remind you to look past the cold and enjoy the pristine beauty and invigorating outdoor opportunities afforded by a frigid wasteland.

Given the limited availability of salt, you are more likely to encounter surfaces covered with a layer of packed snow or ice. Fermilab has experienced a number of minor occupational slip and fall injuries this season. A few simple precautions can help reduce your chances of getting hurt.

• Use footwear that provides traction on snow and ice.
• Hang onto railings or other stable objects. Use your vehicle for support when entering or exiting.
• Use designated clear walkways or a grassy edge.
• If you must walk on ice, take short steps or shuffle. Bend slightly and walk flat-footed with your center of gravity over your feet.
• Be prepared to fall. If it happens, bend your back and head forward. Fall with sequential contacts at your thigh, hip, and shoulder.

When winter weather hits, trouble can find even the most skilled driver. Improper winter driving caused 15 of the 23 motor vehicle accidents reported onsite since Dec. 1, 2007. Here are some tips to help you avoid becoming a statistic:

• Maintain clear visibility. Clear away all ice and snow from windows, mirrors and wipers to make sure you can see clearly in all directions. Make sure head and taillights also are clean.
• Prevent slippage. Remove ice and snow from shoes and boots to prevent pedal slippage.
• Slow down. Driving too fast for conditions contributes to many winter weather accidents. Don't follow too closely to the vehicle in front of you.
• Avoid harsh actions. Any quick force input to the tires, including quick starts, hard breaking or steering, can contribute to sliding. Steer, brake and accelerate slowly.
• Avoid distractions. Pay attention to road conditions and other vehicles.

Each year, as a way to strengthen their ES&H programs, all divisions and sections develop plans for the coming year that focus on their ES&H actions. Their plans incorporate input from employees and supervisors and division and section managers. The laboratory director evaluates both the planned actions and the subsequent results. ES&H posts the plans on the ES&H Section's Web site.

You may have noticed an increasing number of laptop computers in meetings at Fermilab. People are busy checking online materials, taking notes, and other miscellaneous tasks. Laptops can have the power of some desktop computers, while weighing typically far less. The average laptop weighs 5-7 pounds and provides a viewing area of about 15 inches wide. Although extremely convenient, laptop computers do have problems. ES&H staff members concern themselves mostly with ergonomics and heat generation.

A keyboard in a well-designed computer workstation should sit low and tilt downward toward the user. The screen top should sit near eye height. Amber Larson, chair of Fermilab's Ergonomics Subcommittee, pointed out that meeting these criteria takes work because of the connection of the keyboard and screen. Setting the laptop on a stand that tilts the base down in front and up in back can help.

According to Medical Department Nurse Karen Swanson, the Medical Office has seen an unusual number of people sick with sinusitis and pneumonia. These illnesses are often brought on by viral respiratory infections. They also see people ill with gastro-intestinal viruses accompanied by high fevers.

Site Occupational Medical Director Dr. Brian Svazas said that viruses are primarily transmitted via contaminated surfaces and direct person-to-person contact. A major factor is the close proximity of people to each other. The same phenomenon is seen on ship cruises, at scout camps, and in military recruit bases, no matter what the weather.

Three factors can help you stay safe while driving in winter: visibility, traction and driving style. Reduced visibility and traction make things difficult, while driving style determines how well you deal with winter hazards, as well as those imposed by other drivers.