Wildlife safety training:  What is it and why do your employees need it?

By :- Kate, On July 20, 2015 in ::-Tips

What does your company’s working environment look like? For some, a day at the office is, quite literally, a day at the office. For some people, however, a day at the office means something a little more wild, as in wilderness. Working in the wild brings with it a whole host of potential dangers. To ensure your employees stay safe, it’s a good idea to ensure they take a certified wildlife safety training course through a company such as isafety.ca

These courses are designed to arm employees who work in remote locations with the information they need about the potential dangers on the worksite. More than recognizing dangers, these courses teach employees how to manage these risks and what to do should they come in contact with such things.

Wildlife safety training is not just another checkbox on the list of workplace protocols; it’s a crucial investment in the well-being of both your employees and the wildlife they interact with. In professions where employees are exposed to wild animals, the risks of injuries or accidents are heightened. Whether it’s dealing with unpredictable behavior, encountering venomous creatures, or navigating rugged terrain, the potential hazards are abundant.

By providing comprehensive wildlife safety training, employers equip their teams with the knowledge and skills necessary to mitigate these risks effectively. From understanding animal behavior to implementing proper handling techniques, such training not only enhances employee safety but also promotes the ethical treatment of wildlife.

If employees are injured due to a lack of proper training in this field, they could take the help of a Workers Compensation attorney (like those found on https://www.warforhou.com/houston-workers-compensation-lawyer) and take legal action against the company. To ensure legal compliance and also reduce the risk of your employees getting injured, it’s a good idea to give your workers proper training before they venture into the work.

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Topics generally covered in wildlife awareness courses include the tools to avoid adverse interactions with dangerous animals such as bears, moose, coyotes, foxes, wolves and cougars, among others. Students will learn to recognize the presence of such animals and how to react should they experience an attack. They will also learn practical knowledge they can use to recognize other potential safety risks and how to manage their exposure to them. Topics may include:

Bear ecology and identification: What types of bears live in the area? What type of habitats do they live in, and what do they look like? What do they eat?

Signs of bears or other animal nearby: How to recognize tracks of various animals and other signs of animal presence, how to secure a worksite to deter animals from invading (such as keeping food out of easy access, etc.)

How to deal with bear encounters: Steps to take to ensure bears stay at a safe distance, what to do in the case of a bear attack (how to get away, how to tend to wounds, etc.), the potential types of bear attacks, how to help if another employee is attacked, etc.

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Practical skills: How to store and use bear spray, basic first-aid skills for exposure to bears and other animals

Plant identification: How to identify dangerous plants and avoid exposure, how to treat accidental exposure, how to identify rashes and other signs of exposure to dangerous plants, etc.

Environmental responsibility is another key aspect of wildlife awareness training. Companies working in the wild have a responsibility to ensure that their work does not make a negative impact on either the animal or the plant life on the work site. Reducing animal mortalities is a big part of this equation. Wildlife safety courses can help a company meet their environmental responsibility mandate and ensure that they can do their work without posing a threat to the natural environment. This includes how to assess the feasibility of worksite based on the wildlife present, how to avoid wildlife conflicts, and more.