[familyguy]

I need some feedback. New guy on the job, 2nd day at work, he manages to weedwack some poison ivy in a historical cemetery we care for. (I think this place is where poison ivy was invented)

He had on shorts and a t-shirt, all company accepted. He is HIGHLY allergic, we now know. He has it everywhere, even on his unmentionable..... OUCH

He was so uncomfortable, he was unable to work Monday. Tuesday was a day off anyway, but Wednesday (today) he needed to go home at noon.

Please answer the poll to let me know how you would handle this situation. I will tell how I did later on after some replies. I am curious to know what folks would do.

[Paul]

Your problem is it's a work related injury, there is no firing him!

[cutntrim]

You can't fire him for that. He'll just have to wait until it subsides, then come back to work and since he's missing time from work...that means submitting a claim through Worker's Comp.

[Stonehenge]

Hate to say it, but I think Paul is right.

You might be working in an "at will" employment state, in which case not having a reason to let someone go is better than having one.

Now, if he knew he was highly allergic to poison ivy in advance of that, you'd have a beef, but I think a big hill to climb to prove it.

And poison ivy is not that bad, even when you get it everywhere (voice of experience). Just slather on the Calamine for a week or two. No need to miss work.

As for the options in the poll, my answer would be one not listed - you tell him to get some Calamine, and give him a few days, then get him back to work. If he's as much a dolt as you think he is, find another reason to let him go.

[Lanelle]

I have to disagree about poison ivy being 'not that bad' (voice of experience). If he is highly allergic, his whole system can become involved and he will need to go to the doctor. He may have to take steriods or other anti-inflamatory drugs to bring the infection under control. After he has recovered, he should be using a preventative cream so he doesn't get re-infected since he may work at the same cemetary again. If the weather is extremely hot and humid, he doesn't even need to touch the stuff to get it. The poison ivy oils can be airborne and land on the skin of folks nearby.
I agree with Paul. His injury is work related and you need to cover your 'liability' by making certain that he gets proper medical treatment.

[TrickyDick]

I think the "fire him" part was a joke guys.

I, luckily, am magically immune to the stuff but people who are sensative to it can really be miserable. I can't even imagine what it would be like all over your nethers in 95% humidity.

Is that how you spell nethers?

[Dale Wiley]

I think you guys need to rethink your workmens comp thing.

Reaction to poison ivy can vary, from a mild irritation to anaphlaptic shock. Since this person obviously has a reaction, you are now in a situation where accommodation is probably required.

He was injured, and it is an injury on the job. He is entitled to WC, and could file for it.

I would pay for his treatment, pay him for whatever amount of time the urgent care, er or doc said he had to be off, and then require him and everyone else to wear pants and long sleeves at that work site, and I would send some one out with some Crossbow and nuke the poison ivy. You have every right to make that dress code change, since it is a safety issue.

Our crews all wear pants by choice, and the Guatemalans wear long sleeves every day.

The less contact you company has as far as claims with WC, the better you are. We had one claim last year, an eye injury. $ 540 ER bill, I paid it without hesitation. WC never knew about it.

[Hamons]

I would suggest the same as Dale -- get him to a doc -- get a cortizone shot. Get him back to work.

[Mark Oomkes]

Ditto on the doctor. Get him the steroids that counteract the allergic reaction. I had to get them once as well. Had it head to toe on the front half of my body. He'll be back to work right away unless the doc says differently. I think my prescription was like $60 or close to it. Not worth the hassle.

If he's an idiot, like was stated, find another reason to get rid of him--after he's healed.

[dan deutekom]

Did you show him what poison ivy looks like? Did you warn him about how much is at this job site? Did you say that he should wear long pants and sleeves and face protection while weed whacking? Is he experienced or just some labourer with no real experience? Did you have him weed whacking heavy weeds where he couldn't see the poison ivy? Was there a supervisor with him to train and warn him of the possible dangers.

I don't know where "If he's an idiot, like was stated" comes from because I didn't see that in any of the posts but that is how rumors start. (remember the old telephone game as a kid )

Sometimes #$%t happens and it really isn't anyones fault. We can all look for someone to blame but it just happens.

Treat like any other workplace related injury and try to find ways to prevent it from happening again.

[Mark Oomkes]

My bad, sorry, I did read it wrong.

[4seasons]

myself and another guy just got over poison ivy. He worked everyday and only took time off for an hour to get a shot.(120.00) . Myself I just slathered on the cream and didnt scratch very much. Went away after a week or so. We knew that we would get it, heck we loaded 2 one ton dumps full of the stuff! The other guy with us didnt even get a bump. Dont turn in a little claim like that to WC , they are just looking for an excuse to bump you off anyway.

[scl]

Had it several times, and life was hell for 7-14 days each time. Did the roids, calamine, benadryl, not much helped.Pay him a couple days and do as Dale said. Enforce the new dress code.

[VoodooChile]

What Dan said.

Here are some other related threads: No Poison Ivy in Mexico

Plant of the Week 22

My old business partner, a guy and I gutted a weedy Kettle Moraine sand prairie many years ago, only to realize at the end of day 1 that it was chock full of poison. We had been pulling out rootstock barehanded in the hot September sun.

I got a mild case of scratching, the old business partner got what he deserved, and the guy, he was completely lit up, oozing blisters covering arms, knuckles and between fingers, and over most of his face. There were two experienced plantsmen on the job, and the guy wasn't one of them.

Yeah...he got the week off.

[Busy Bee]

Your employee, if he is highly allergic, should see a doctor and get a cortazone shot. There is a product on the market and is heaven sent. It is called Tecnu oak and ivy. With my experience with it 2 days max and the poison doesn't itch. Wonderful stuff it even works very well on sumac. I have used it for years having to clean out ivy from bushes. I highly recomend it.