Big Surprise at work!!

My husband and I work on a military base, and we are in the process of completing a remodel of a warehouse. Anyway I was cleaning up some used lumber and I took it to the dumpster. When I came back I noticed I had missed a 2x4, it had some nails in it, so I picked it up with my fingertips on one side and thumbs on the other. As I lifted it I seen a snake!! After I did a matrix like move over a pallet of stuff and was standing there recovering. An electrician that works with us asked me what was going on. I told him about the snake, he doesnt like snakes, so him and some other guys- including my dh, gathered around to investigate. Well after it was beheaded it was determined it was a baby rattlesnake. OMG if i had picked up the 2x4 the way I normally do I would have been biten. So the moral is always be aware, please.