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Hazards index

Hazards are anything that can cause harm and every place of work has them. Understanding the hazards at your work can help you manage risks and keep workers safe and healthy.

This information will help you identify the hazards at your work and the steps you can take to reduce or remove risks for yourself and your workers.

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Showing 13-24 of 91 results with 2 filters

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  • Electricity; environment; plant, equipment and vehicle

    Work at heights

    There’s a risk of falling when working at a height—near an opening, an edge or on a slippery, sloping or unstable surface. You can also fall at ground level into holes like openings, trenches or service pits. Find out what steps you can take to stay safe working from heights.

  • Hazardous chemicals; environment; material

    Diseases from animals

    This page includes information about animal diseases including Hendra virus, influenza, Q fever, Leptospirosis, Hydatid disease, Psittacosis, Toxoplasmosis, and information about Australian bat lyssavirus and handling bats.

  • Hazardous chemicals; environment

    Carbon monoxide in breathing air during air compressor use

    Compressed air can be used to supply clean breathing air to respiratory protective equipment. However, there is a risk that the air supplied by compressors powered by internal combustion engines can be contaminated with harmful gases and substances, including carbon monoxide.

  • Environment; health and wellbeing

    Q fever

    Q fever is an infectious disease that is spread from animals to people. It is caused by bacteria called Coxiella burnetii.

  • Plant, equipment and vehicle

    On-site traffic management

    You must manage the risk of collision and injuries when vehicles and powered mobile machinery and equipment operate in the same area as pedestrians.

  • Environment

    Legionella risks from work with potting mix and compost

    Legionella bacteria are found in the environment. Human infection is most commonly caused by Legionella pneumophila found in man-made water systems such as cooling towers and spas, and Legionella longbeachae found in potting mix and compost.

  • Environment; material

    Lead

    Lead can be inhaled through dust or fumes or swallowed through eating contaminated food or smoking with contaminated fingers. Untreated lead poisoning in adults, children and pets can be fatal.

  • Hazardous chemicals; environment; material

    Hazardous dusts

    All airborne dust is hazardous to health. Dust can contain a range of materials including sand, dirt, pollen, minerals, wood, micro-organisms, and vehicle and industrial exhausts.

  • Health and wellbeing

    Managing chronic disease at work

    With many Queensland workers affected by chronic disease, it is important to identify and manage chronic disease risk factors at work.

  • Environment; health and wellbeing

    Heat stress

    Working in hot and/or humid environments can be uncomfortable, but more importantly lead to a heat-related illness, which can be fatal. This page has information about the causes and sources of heat stress, types of heat-related illness and control measures.

  • Environment; health and wellbeing

    Ebolavirus disease (EVD)

    The risk of Ebolavirus disease (EVD) in Australia is low, however healthcare agencies are currently developing EVD preparedness plans to ensure that any potential cases can be managed safely. For more information on EVD, visit the Department of Health.

  • Environment; health and wellbeing

    Occupational viral hepatitis

    Some workers are at increased risk of exposure to hepatitis A, hepatitis B or hepatitis C viruses. Watch this short film from Hepatitis Queensland to find out more about who is at risk, how to protect against infection and where to get more information about viral hepatitis.