All corporate sites are responsible for the health and safety of their employees whilst on-site. For sites situated in areas where staff are exposed to snake encounters, it is imperative that staff are given correct training in snake awareness and information on what to do in the case of snake encounters. For sites situated in remote areas, having trained snake handlers on each shift can be an invaluable asset.

Africa has just under 600 different types of snakes, and although a large percentage of them are considered harmless or mildly venomous, there are a number of species which are considered potentially deadly. Snakebite in Africa can be extremely expensive to treat, with bills running from tens to hundreds of thousands of Rands.

Most Occupational Health and Safety acts throughout Africa require that employers ensure a safe working environment for their staff, eliminating hazards where possible or taking the necessary steps to minimise risks. Snakes on-site can prove an extreme hazard, one which can largely be mitigated with proper training.

The presence of snakes in the workplace is problematic in a number of areas and the risk of serious snakebite is high. Most Enviromental Policies ensure that any snake found in the workplace, irrespective of whether such a snake is deemed dangerous or not, may not be killed and must be removed safely and relocated elsewhere.

What to do in snake encounters?

1. If a snake is seen on site, immediately move away to a safe distance of 5 meters or more. Keep calm and keep an eye on the snake.
2. Notify your supervisor or management about the presence of the snake. Watch the snake until the certificated snake remover arrives.
3. The snake must be removed by a certified snake remover who has the correct snake handling equipment. The snake must be captured and containerised in a manner that is safe for both the snake remover and the snake. At no stage should there be any physical contact with any snake.
4. The snake must immediately be removed off site and released in a suitable habitat away from people.

How to minimize snakes on site?

Snakes are largely attracted to sites when seeking food or shelter. To minimize the number of snakes on site you need to address these two attractants.

1. Keep the site clean. A number of snakes are attracted to sites by rodents and frogs which are attracted by refuse, rubble, water puddles and food source (usually food from canteens).
2. Remove piles of unused rubble, wood, corrugated iron, asbestos sheeting and the like.
3. Elevate containers and large equipment off the ground on concrete blocks or bricks to minimise tight, dark hiding spots below.
4. Remove dense vegetation around buildings including long grass and bushes or hedges growing close to windows.
5. Make sure doors to offices and accommodation units seal fully so that snakes cannot enter the building under the door.

With the correct training and equipment, removing snakes from site is largely a straightforward procedure. The African Snakebite Institute trains thousands of people a year across 19 African countries in snake awareness and venomous snake handling. This gives the staff the experience and protocols required to deal with a potentially dangerous situation. The African Snakebite Institute is also the largest supplier of quality snake handling equipment in Africa.

The African Snakebite Institute is the leading training provider of snake awareness, first aid for snakebite and Venomous snake handling in Africa.
We offer training to corporate clients across various industries, including mining, solar and wind farms, government departments, construction companies, game lodges, anti-poaching units and hospitals across the continent.

SOUTH AFRICA                                                                                                                                                 AFRICA

We offer on-site training to companies throughout South Africa.                                                   We offer on-site training in 19 African countries! 

Click here to view the full course info                                                                                                               Click here to view the full course info

The African Snakebite Institute is the leading provider of quality snake handling equipment on the continent. We stock 15 different options on snake tongs, 10 kinds of snake hooks, 16 different snake gaiters, snake tubes, buckets, bags, books and a wide range of first aid for snakebite kits.

View all our products on our online shop here.