Objective: Ants, bees, hornets, wasps, and yellow jackets (insects in Order Hymenoptera) are a serious concern to outdoor workers as the venom from their stings can cause life-threatening allergic reactions. This study assessed the impacts of Hymenoptera stings and related worker training regimes of forestry workers across the United States (US).

Methods: In the current study, a survey was distributed to nearly 2,000 outdoor workers in the forestry industry from four US regions (South, West, Northeast, and Midwest).

Results: Ants are a primary concern in the South, with > 75% of participants reporting ant stings within the last five years. Bees, hornets, wasps, and yellow jackets are a concern for surveyed foresters in all US regions with 60-70% and 75-93% of participants, respectively, having been stung by bees or hornets/wasps/yellow jackets within the last five years. Despite such a large number of participants experiencing stings, nearly 75% of participants were not concerned about being stung or their reaction to stings. Approximately, 70% of participants reported not having received any safety training related to Hymenoptera from their employers.

Conclusion: No significant difference was shown in the number of foresters stung at work between safety trained and non-safety trained participants. However, it was significantly more likely for participants to carry a first aid kit if they had received Hymenoptera safety training. Consequently, more comprehensive and frequent training is recommended to help reduce risk of exposure to Hymenoptera.