Important: From 1 January 2012, information on this website is being reviewed and must be read in conjunction with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.
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Workplace Health and Safety Queensland inspectors will be visiting horse-related businesses in Queensland in 2010, with a focus on horse veterinarians, in the campaign against the Hendra virus.
All people working with horses should know that infected horses can excrete Hendra virus before showing signs of illness, and by the time a horse is showing clinical illness there may be a systemic spread of Hendra virus throughout the horse's tissues and body fluids.
In all previous human cases, exposure occurred before the horse was confirmed to have Hendra virus. Veterinary standard precautions for infection control for all contact with horses should be adopted, as well as awareness that certain routine equine procedures such as endoscopy of the respiratory system may increase risk. Protection should be used whenever uncertainty exists.
Workplace health and safety precautions for Hendra virus are detailed in the Guidelines for veterinarians handling potential Hendra virus infection in horses which is accessible from the Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries website at www.dpi.qld.gov.au. Following these guidelines will prevent or minimise the risk of exposure.
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland inspectors will be carrying out assessments on how employers are managing Hendra virus risks, and providing information and advice to assist with Hendra virus risk management. The audit program will conclude in June 2010.
To help prepare for the audits, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has made available the audit surveys which have been developed as part of the initiative. Vets will be sent a copy of the survey prior to the inspector visit, and the inspector will use the survey during the visit as a tool for gathering information about how the client is managing Hendra virus risks and to assess the client's information needs.
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland also published Safety Alerts on Hendra virus for veterinarians and horse properties in response to the recent Hendra virus outbreaks at Cawarral and Bowen in 2009.
For more information, please refer to the safety alerts:
Biosecurity Queensland also has extensive information on Hendra virus on its website at http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/4790_2900.htm.
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© The State of Queensland (Department of Justice and Attorney-General) 2009.
