Health and Safety Risk management form
Faculty/Division: Science
Document number
School/Unit: Biological Sciences
Initial Issue date
15 July 2013
Risk Assessment name
Current version
01
Current Version
Issue date
Next review date
15 July 2014
15 July 2013
Q fever in wildlife – Risk of contracting Q fever and assessment for need for vaccination
Date 11 July 2013
Form completed by
Chris Dickman
Responsible supervisor/ authorising officer
Michael Joseph - School Safety Officer
Signature
Signature
Date
Identify the activity and the location of the activity
Identify who may be at risk from the activity:
Description
of activity
This may include fellow workers, visitors, contractors and the public. The types of people may
affect the risk controls needed and the location may affect the number of people at risk
Description
of location
Trapping and handling of wildlife, especially mammals
The Q fever organism, Coxiella burnettii, a bacterium, occurs worldwide
except in New Zealand where native mammals are virtually absent. Hence,
mammals (and perhaps birds) anywhere are potential carriers, although the
bacterium appears to be quite uncommon.
Persons at risk
Anyone who traps and handles mammals, or who
owns a cat, dog or other mammal; farm workers,
vets.
How they were
consulted on the risk
Main consultation via Dr Sue Willis, University Health
Service
List legislation, standards, codes of practice, manufacturer’s guidance etc used to determine control measures necessary
Work Health and Safety Act 2011
Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011
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The Australian Immunization Handbook (10th Edition, 2013)
Medicine of Australian Mammals (Vogelnest and Woods 2008)
Identify hazards and control the risks.
1. An activity may be divided into tasks. For each task identify the hazards and associated risks. Also list the possible scenarios which could sooner or later cause harm.
2. Determine controls necessary based on legislation, codes of practice, Australian standards, manufacturer’s instructions etc.
3. List existing risk controls and any additional controls that need to be implemented
Task or
Hazard
Current
risk
Associated harm
Any additional controls required?
Residual
risk
Existing risk controls
Scenario
Touching or live
trapping mammals
Inhalation of
infectious particles
from carrier
animals; tick bite
Possible contraction of Q
fever
None specifically for Q fever. Q fever is a
notifiable disease in Australia, with a low
national reporting rate of ≤ 2 people per
100,000 per annum since 2005 (The
Australian Immunization Handbook, 10th
Edition, 2013). It has not previously been
considered a risk factor for wildlife
workers; it is not mentioned, for example,
in Medicine of Australian Mammals,
2008. Those most at risk are farm
workers, abattoir workers and those in
the meat and livestock industries; among
wildlife workers, those working on
kangaroos may be slightly more at risk.
Nonzero, but
close to
zero
For those working with livestock or
perhaps kangaroos, a skin test is
advisable to check whether subjects
have antibodies to Q fever. If they do
not, vaccination may be indicated.
Nonzero, but
close to
zero
For workers on other wildlife, the very
low incidence of infection and low risk
may suggest a ‘watching brief’.
Symptoms of Q fever occur after 2-3½
weeks and manifest as flu-like. Once
diagnosed, treatment with antibiotics is
very effective. Field workers should be
aware of the symptoms and inform
health professionals for treatment.
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List emergency procedures and controls
List emergency controls for how to deal with fires, spills or exposure to hazardous substances and/or emergency shutdown procedures
If Q fever is discovered in a study population of wildlife, or is found in the study area, field personnel should undergo skin tests and then—only if they have no immunity—be
vaccinated against Q fever.
Implementation
Additional control measures needed:
This risk analysis should be disseminated to
all relevant current and future workers on
mammals.
REVIEW
Scheduled review date:
Are all control measures in place?
Resources required
Email distribution.
Responsible person
Michael Joseph
12 months
2 years
Date of implementation
July 2013
3 years
Are controls eliminating or minimising the risk?
Are there any new problems with the risk?
Review by: (name)
Review date:
Acknowledgement of Understanding
All persons performing these tasks must sign that they have read and understood the risk management.
Note: for activities which are low risk or include a large group of people (e.g. open days, BBQ’s, student classes etc), only the persons undertaking the key activities need to sign below. For all others involved in such
activities, the information can be covered by other methods including for example a safety briefing, induction, and/or safety information sheet (ensure the method of communicating this information is specified here)
Risk management name and version number:
Name
I have read and understand this risk management form
Signature
Date
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