Diseases
Workers can be exposed to diseases while at work. Learn how to manage the risk of exposure to diseases in the workplace.
Occupational diseases are illnesses or health conditions caused or aggravated by work conditions or practices. Some workers are more at risk than others.
Under work health and safety (WHS) law, persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) must ensure the health and safety of workers and others at work by maintaining a safe workplace.
To manage the risk of exposure to diseases in the workplace, a PCBU must:
- apply a risk management approach to eliminate and/or minimise the risks in the workplace so far as is reasonably practicable.
- consult with workers and/or their health and safety representatives.
Reporting serious illness and disease in your workplace
You must notify SafeWork NSW of serious illnesses arising out of work.
You must also notify SafeWork NSW of any infection if work is a significant contributing factor.
You can notify SafeWork of a serious illness by calling 13 10 50. Read more about how to notify us.
You can view examples of incidents that need to be notified on Safe Work Australia’s Incident notification information sheet.
Some diseases must also be notified to NSW Health.
You must notify SafeWork of the following occupational zoonoses contracted in the course of work:
COVID-19 coronavirus
Coronaviruses cause respiratory illness in humans and animals. There are many types of coronaviruses.
COVID-19 is a relatively new coronavirus. Others include Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
Under WHS laws, PCBUs must manage the risk of COVID-19 exposure and transmission in the workplace. For advice, view the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) webpage.
Mosquito-borne diseases
Mosquitoes can transmit serious diseases that are spread to humans through mosquito bites. The mosquito-borne diseases detected in NSW include:
- Japanese encephalitis (JE)
- Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE)
- Kunjin virus
- Ross River virus
- Barmah Forest virus
For more details, visit the mosquito-borne diseases hub by NSW Health.
More SafeWork NSW information on mosquito-borne diseases
Japanese encephalitis (JE)
JE is a rare but serious mosquito-borne disease caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV).
JEV is the only vaccine-preventable mosquito-borne disease in NSW.
For more details, read the Japanese encephalitis safety alert.
Zoonoses
Zoonoses are diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans.
Contact with animals or animal products puts workers at risk of exposure. Some at-risk occupations include:
- veterinarians
- farmers
- abattoir workers
- shearers
- wildlife workers.
PCBUs can minimise the risk of exposure in the workplace by:
- implementing workplace design and engineering controls
- maintaining healthy animals
- developing safe work practices
Workers can minimise the risk by:
- practising good personal hygiene
- wearing protective clothing and equipment
- getting vaccinated (where a vaccine is available).
Anthrax
Anthrax is a bacterial disease caused by infection with bacillus anthracis. It occurs among grazing animals worldwide, including livestock in parts of Australia. It can also infect humans.
For more details, read the Anthrax fact sheet by NSW Health.
Australian bat lyssavirus
Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) is a virus transmitted from bats to humans. It spreads through bites or scratches from infected bats. It causes serious illness in humans similar (but not identical) to the rabies virus.
There are 12 types of lyssavirus worldwide. ABLV is the only type found in Australia.
People who handle bats in Australia are at risk of ABLV infection.
For more details, read the Australian bat lyssavirus fact sheet by NSW Health.
Avian influenza (bird flu)
Avian influenza (AI) is a highly infectious viral disease that can infect a wide range of birds.
On rare occasions, some strains of AI virus can infect humans.
For more details, read the Avian influenza fact sheet by NSW Health and the Avian influenza fact sheet by the NSW Department of Primary Industries.
Brucellosis
Brucellosis is a rare infection caused by the bacteria brucella. It is transmitted to humans from infected animals.
It is well controlled in most developed countries, such as Australia.
For more details, read the Brucellosis fact sheet by NSW Health.
Hendra virus
Hendra virus is a disease of horses and humans. It causes serious illness.
The virus passes from flying foxes to horses, and from horses to humans via blood, body fluids and tissues.
More SafeWork NSW information on hendra virus
Read Safe Work Australia’s Guide to managing risks when new and inexperienced persons interact with horses.
Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that is transmitted from animals to humans. The bacteria have been found in domestic and wild animals.
The bacteria are shed in an infected animal’s urine and tissues which can contaminate their environment.
Outbreaks are usually associated with exposure to flood water contaminated with urine from infected animals.
Workers most at risk of exposure are those who:
- have close contact with animals
are exposed to water, mud, soil or vegetation that has been contaminated with animal urine.
More SafeWork NSW information on leptospirosis
For more details, read the Protect yourself from leptospirosis fact sheet (PDF, 203.63 KB).
Psittacosis
Psittacosis is a disease caused by the bacteria Chlamydia psittaci. It is transmitted to humans from birds. Humans are usually infected by inhaling dust from the feathers, secretions, and droppings of infected birds.
For more details, read the Psittacosis fact sheet by NSW Health.
Q fever
Q fever is caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii. This bacteria is found in the tissues of infected animals. It spreads to humans from:
- cattle
- sheep
- goats
- a range of other domestic and wild animals.
Humans are usually infected by inhaling the bacteria that is in the air or dust when in contact with infected animals, animal tissues or animal products.