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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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  • Environment; health and wellbeing

    Sun safety and skin cancer

    Workers who are exposed to the sun are at risk of being overexposed to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) – especially in Queensland. Cumulative exposure to UVR can cause sunburn in the short term and can lead to skin cancer and eye damage in the long term.

  • Health and wellbeing; mental health

    Remote or isolated work

    Remote work refers to work that is isolated from the assistance of other people because of location, time, or the nature of the work.  It can involve working in locations where there is difficulty in immediate rescue or attendance of emergency services (where required).

  • Hazardous manual tasks; health and wellbeing

    Safer palletising

    Loading and unloading pallets of goods or produce are repetitive tasks that can easily lead to serious injury if the risks aren't removed.

  • Hazardous chemicals; material; environment

    Skin disorders and exposures

    There are many ways that skin can be exposed to substances at work can harm the skin and cause disease. Some chemicals that come into contact with the skin can be absorbed and cause disease in other areas of the body. Find out more about how to stay safe.

  • Hazardous chemicals; environment; material

    Dowel drilling rigs for concrete

    Using dowel drilling rigs, also known as gang drills, to drill holes in concrete can generate respirable crystalline silica dust. When inhaled, the small particles of silica can irreversibly damage the lungs.

  • Health and wellbeing; mental health

    Poor organisational justice

    Poor organisational justice refers to work where there is a lack of procedural fairness (fair processes to reach decisions), informational fairness (keeping relevant people informed), or interpersonal fairness (treating people with dignity and respect).

  • Hazardous chemicals; environment; material

    Handheld and stand-mounted drills

    Handheld and stand-mounted drills, including impact and rotary hammer drills are used to drill holes in concrete, masonry and other silica-containing materials. This can generate respirable crystalline silica dust. When inhaled over time, the small particles of silica can irreversibly damage the lungs.

  • Hazardous chemicals

    Hydrogen

    Hydrogen is now preferred as a clean, renewal energy source to support the green economy and reduce carbon emissions.

  • Health and wellbeing; mental health

    Poor environmental conditions

    Poor environmental conditions are those where workers are exposed to unpleasant, poor quality, or hazardous physical environments or conditions that create a stress response.

  • Health and wellbeing; mental health

    Low reward and recognition

    Low reward and recognition refers to work where there is an imbalance between workers’ efforts and recognition or rewards they receive in return – both formal and informal.

  • Hazardous chemicals; environment; material

    Handheld grinders for mortar removal

    Using handheld grinders to remove mortar (tuckpointing or removing mortar/concrete that has leaked from undersides of slab) can generate respirable crystalline silica dust. When inhaled, the small particles of silica can irreversibly damage the lungs.

  • Health and wellbeing; mental health

    High and/or low job demands

    A job can involve a combination of high and/or low physical, mental and emotional demands, which can create risks to the health and safety of workers.