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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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  • 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.

  • Electricity; environment; health and wellbeing; hazardous manual tasks; plant, equipment and vehicle

    Lighting

    How to reduce the risks associated with insufficient lighting in workplaces.

  • 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.

  • Environment

    Housekeeping

    Many slips and trips are the results of poor housekeeping, and this is often a sign of a lack of clear systems and responsibilities for storage, maintenance and cleaning.

  • Health and wellbeing; mental health

    Poor organisational change management

    Poor organisational change management refers to organisational change management that is poorly planned, communicated, supported or managed.

  • Health and wellbeing; mental health

    Harassment including sexual harassment

    Harassment includes offensive remarks or behaviour directed towards a worker or group of workers in relation to personal characteristics such as age, disability, race, sex, relationship status, family responsibilities, sexual orientation, gender identity, or intersex status.

  • Hazardous chemicals; environment; material

    Jackhammers or handheld powered chipping tools

    Using a jackhammer or handheld power chipping tools to break or demolish concrete, stone, masonry or other silica-containing materials can generate respirable crystalline silica dust. When inhaled over time, the small particles of silica can irreversibly damage the lungs.

  • Electricity

    Electrical product recalls

    If an electrical product is shown to be unsafe and likely to cause injury or damage property, it should be recalled as soon as possible.

  • Hazardous chemicals; electricity; environment; health and wellbeing; hazardous manual tasks; material; mental health; plant, equipment and vehicle

    Storms and floods

    It's important for employers and workers to be prepared for the threat of a natural disaster. This page has important health and safety information about what to do before, during and after a natural disaster strikes.

  • Hazardous chemicals; environment; material

    Walk-behind milling machines and floor grinders

    Using walk-behind milling machines or floor grinders on concrete or other silica-containing materials can generate respirable crystalline silica dust. When inhaled, the small particles of silica can irreversibly damage the lungs.