Africanized Honeybee Safety Tips

American Society of Safety Engineers Alert Floridians to Risk of Deadly Bees, Offer Safety Tips

Des Plaines, IL (October 27, 2008) — Florida members of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) are urging employers, employees and residents to be aware of the danger of aggressive Africanized Honey Bees (AHBs), their negative impact on European Honey Bees (EHBs) and agriculture, on workplace safety and on animals.

“These bees are very dangerous,” ASSE President Warren K. Brown, CSP, ARM, CSHM, said today. “They multiply quickly and people should have wild bee hives removed by an authorized pest control vendor or risk injury.”

The recent attack on a woman and her dogs in a South Florida neighborhood has led ASSE to reissue this warning in an effort to prevent further attacks and to increase workplace safety – whether while working on the road, in the fields or outdoors. Published reports say a 70-year-old woman was injured recently and her dogs were killed after a swarm of bees attacked them. Later, the bees attacked two other neighborhood dogs killing one.  Continue...

Bee Safe Quick Guide

From the Texas A&M University Honey Bee Information Site.

What to do if you find Bees on your property
  1. Stay away from all honey bee swarms and colonies.
  2. Get away from bees as quickly as possible.
  3. While running away, protect your face and eyes as much as possible.
  4. Take shelter in an enclosed area, such as a car, truck, or building.
  5. Call a local beekeeper, pest control company, or local cooperative extenstion agent for assistance.
  6. Do not hide in water or thick brush.
  7. Do not stand still and swat at bees; rapid movements will cause them to sting.
What to do if stung
  1. Get away from bees as quickly as possible. Go to a safe area away from the bees such as inside a car, truck, or buildling.
  2. Pull or scrape stings from skin as soon as possible. Most venom is released within one minute.
  3. Wash stung areas with soap and water like any other wound to prevent infection.
  4. Apply ice to relieve pain and swelling.
  5. Seek medical attention if breathing is difficult, if you are stung many times, or if you are allergic to bee stings.

Africanized Honey Bees: An Occupational Safety and Health Threat

Safety Tips - July 2007

The American Society of Safety Engineers' (ASSE) 30,000+ occupational safety, health and environmental (SH&E) members are concerned about the rapid growth of the dangerous Africanized Honey Bees (AHBs) in the U.S. and their negative impact on European Honey Bees (EHBs) and agriculture. First found in the U.S. in southern Texas in 1990, AHBs are now found in much of the south, the southeast and the southwest, including California. AHBs are more aggressive than EHBs and garden bees and can be more dangerous to people and animals.

ASSE members are getting the word out to members around the U.S. and worldwide in an effort to help prevent injuries and to limit the negative impact the spread of AHBs could have on the economy. Continue...

USDA Spread of Africanized Honeybees

First found in southern Texas in 1990, Africanized honey bees are now found in much of the South.

More information can be found at the United States Department of Agriculture: Agricultural Research Service website.

Africanized Honeybees: What Every Floridian Needs To Know