Q fever as a hazard in the workplace

admin • November 17, 2025

Q fever is a serious but preventable disease that affects people working with animals or animal products. Protecting yourself and your workplace requires awareness, vaccination, and safe practices.


What is Q Fever?

Q fever is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii. It primarily affects people who work with animals such as cattle, sheep, and goats, or handle animal products like hides, wool, and meat. The bacteria can survive in dust and soil for long periods, making it easy to spread in agricultural and processing environments.


Who is at Risk?

Certain industries and roles face higher exposure:

  • Farmers, shearers, and abattoir workers
  • Veterinarians and animal handlers
  • Meat and dairy processors
  • Laboratory staff working with animal samples
  • Workers at stockyards, animal transport, in shearing sheds etc
  • Any workers in animal facilities

Even visitors to farms or facilities can be at risk if proper precautions aren’t taken.



How do you get Q Fever?

Q fever can he transmitted through aerosols, dust or through contaminated animal products.

For example:

  • Through animal tissues, such as when birthing, slaughtering or butchering
  • Through faeces, urine and placentas
  • From contaminated wool, hides, animal bedding, or equipment
  • When breathing in dust infected by animals, including when mustering, transporting or shearing
  • When slashing contaminated grasses or handling contaminated soil or hay
  • By drinking unpasteurised milk which is infected
  • By touching infected tissues or fluids when you have a cut or broken skin


What are the signs of Q Fever?

Q fever causes an illness which can last for up to 6 weeks, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe. Common symptoms include:

  • High fever and chills
  • Severe headaches
  • Muscle pain and fatigue
  • Sweats and weight loss
  • Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea
  • In some cases, pneumonia or hepatitis

However, some people don’t recover, and they can develop a chronic illness which can last for months or years. Chronic Q fever is rare, but when it does happen, it can lead to long-term complications such as heart valve infections and infections of the bones and joints, as well as vascular disease. Up to 15% of infected people will experience sever fatigue which can last for years and is extremely debilitating.


Preventing Q Fever

Prevention is the best protection. Key strategies include:

  • Vaccination: The Q fever vaccine is highly effective but requires pre-screening to avoid adverse reactions. Pre-screening will identify those who have been previously exposed or have been previously vaccinated for Q fever.
  • Safe Work Practices:

Minimise dust in animal handling areas.

Use protective clothing and masks (PPE).

Practice good hygiene, including handwashing after contact with animals.

  • Education and Awareness: Employers should train workers on risks and prevention measures.
  • Health Monitoring: Encourage workers to report symptoms early for timely medical intervention.

 

Employer Responsibilities

Employers have a duty to provide a safe workplace. If there may be a risk of exposure to Q Fever in their workplace, this includes:

  • Offering vaccination programs
  • Implementing dust control measures
  • Providing personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • Ensuring staff are informed about Q fever risks and prevention
  • Identification of high-risk areas of the workplace
  • Having a workplace Q fever policy

As with all workplace hazards, the employer has a duty to provide a safe workplace and to control risks to health as far as reasonably practicable. They also have a duty to consult with their employees and their health and safety representatives (HSRs). This includes during the hazard identification process, which making decisions on how to control risks, and when monitoring how the control measures are working.


Building a Safer Future

Q fever is preventable, but only if workplaces and individuals take proactive steps. Vaccination, hygiene, and awareness are the cornerstones of prevention. For those working with animals or animal products, staying informed and protected is not just about personal health—it’s about safeguarding the entire community.


Q fever is a workplace hazard that demands attention. With vaccination and safe practices, we can protect workers, families, and communities from this hidden threat.


More information on Q fever can be found at Q fever | Better Health Channel or at Preventing Q fever | WorkSafe Victoria

Engineered Stone - Anniversary of The Ban

By admin • June 29, 2026
Today is the anniversary of the banning of Engineered Stone. On the 1 st July 2024, Engineered Stone was banned due to the high levels of silica it contained, which presented a health and safety risk to those working with it. The banning of engineered stone is a huge win for the safety and health of workers, but it does not mean that workers are safe from silica related disease. Workers can still be exposed to silica from other sources, including: Stone Asphalt Cement, mortar and grout Concrete, concrete blocks and cement products Bricks and pavers Tiles Sand These and related products still present a risk and this comes in the form of respirable crystalline silica. Small particles of silica can be produced when dust is produces through cutting, sanding or processing the materials. This can occur during manufacturing and construction, when mining or digging, and when handling waste. The silica dust can be breathed deep into the lungs and can cause serious disease., including silicosis, fibrosis, COPD, bronchitis and lung cancer. In addition, it can cause other systemic diseases including serious effects on the kidneys, immune system, eyes, etc. Employers must control the risk of exposure and workers should be aware of the risks so that they can make sure that they are safe. BeSafe is still horrified to occasionally see dry cutting by workers who may not be aware of the serious risks of this practice. Just remember, that just because engineered stone has been banned, it doesn’t mean you are safe from silica related disease. Make sure you know how to protect yourself and stay safe from this serious and deadly hazard. More information: For the general information page with resources relating to crystalline silica, take a look at: Crystalline silica | WorkSafe Victoria For information relating to how employers must identify hazards, assess risk, control the risk and review and revise controls regularly, take a look at: Preparing a crystalline silica hazard control statement for high-risk crystalline silica work | WorkSafe Victoria For a practical guide on how to safely work with engineered stone, including exemptions, take a look at Compliance code: Engineered stone | WorkSafe Victoria

Welding Fumes

By admin • June 15, 2026
Welding fumes are hazardous, and employers must control the risk of harm. Various types of welding are used in the workplace, with varying levels of welding fume production. The amount and type of fumes produced during welding will vary based on various factors including: the metals being welded, the welding process used, the composition of the welding rod/wire, the shielding gases used and any contaminants or coating on the metal, etc. There are a number of health effects which may occur due to exposure to welding fumes. These include both short-term and long-term affects Short term: eye irritation, respiratory irritation, metal fume fever (zinc oxide). Long term: siderosis (iron accumulation in the body), lung and kidney cancer, nervous system disorders, asthma, pneumonia. The likelihood of developing damaging health effects from welding will depend on the type of welding being used (and therefore the type of fumes produced), the duration and frequency of exposure, the worker’s proximity to the fumes, the ventilation of the welding area, and any controls which were utilised during the exposure. Welding fumes are a hazardous substance and must be controlled according to the hierarchy of controls. Controls may include: Eliminating the need for welding if possible, for example by using different fastening methods or prefabricated components. Substituting the welding method, for example by using a method which generates less fumes, or using automation methods. Engineering controls including mechanical ventilation such as on-torch extraction or local exhaust ventilation. PPE should be provided by the workplace and includes the use of air fed ventilators. The use of respirators such as Powered Air Purifying Respirators can be used but only in addition to a higher-order control, or if higher-order controls are not possible. Other types of respirators are available but less effective. Several different controls may need to be used and as with any controls, training must be provided on their implementation. Atmospheric monitoring may also be required to monitor exposure levels in the workplace and health monitoring must also be carried out in accordance with the OHS Regulations 2017 Part 4.1 - Hazardous Substances.  Consultation with the workforce, including any elected health and safety representatives, must take place in accordance with requirements under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004. For more information on welding fumes, take a look at the following links: https://youtu.be/0tvrOw18Vr0?si=oK_v3vkbGebCzuMf Controlling exposure to welding fumes | WorkSafe Victoria Compliance code: Hazardous substances | WorkSafe Victoria - Welding fumes | Safe Work Australia