Apr - 2006 Common Workplace Injuries
It's BACK to square one if you ignore the warnings...
Back injuries rate as one of Australia's most common workplace injuries. Each year it costs the Australian economy millions of dollars in lost revenue and productivity. Tradespeople are the most commonly injured due to the nature of their work. Although some injuries may appear to be minor at first, they can last for many years. Often you may lose staff members or even have your own career cut short, resulting in serious health and financial problems.
Plumbing Specific
As you all know the risk of injuring your back in the plumbing trade is high. This is due to a number of factors which make it difficult to work effectively while minimising the risk to your back. Many of your jobs require you to work in confined spaces, lift awkward objects and remain in uncomfortable positions for long periods of time.
Common Causes & Injuries
Although there are many different injuries which occur to the back, the main areas of damage are related to muscles (sprains and strains), skeletal damage (stress fractures), ligament damage, disc damage (commonly referred to as a 'slipped disc') and nerve damage. This can be caused by a variety of things, but generally is related to using incorrect lifting and moving methods as well as working in confined spaces for long periods of time.
A step by step guide to minimising risk for your business
Although injuries are common there are many simple things you can do to minimise the risk to both you and your staff.
Back injuries rate as one of Australia's most common workplace injuries. Each year it costs the Australian economy millions of dollars in lost revenue and productivity. Tradespeople are the most commonly injured due to the nature of their work. Although some injuries may appear to be minor at first, they can last for many years. Often you may lose staff members or even have your own career cut short, resulting in serious health and financial problems.
Plumbing Specific
As you all know the risk of injuring your back in the plumbing trade is high. This is due to a number of factors which make it difficult to work effectively while minimising the risk to your back. Many of your jobs require you to work in confined spaces, lift awkward objects and remain in uncomfortable positions for long periods of time.
Common Causes & Injuries
Although there are many different injuries which occur to the back, the main areas of damage are related to muscles (sprains and strains), skeletal damage (stress fractures), ligament damage, disc damage (commonly referred to as a 'slipped disc') and nerve damage. This can be caused by a variety of things, but generally is related to using incorrect lifting and moving methods as well as working in confined spaces for long periods of time.
A step by step guide to minimising risk for your business
Although injuries are common there are many simple things you can do to minimise the risk to both you and your staff.
- Provide staff training
- Identify potential risks for staff & develop solutions
- Implement a business wide solution that minimises risk and ensures increased safety
- Record all injuries (back related and other) that occur, assess why the incident happened and what could be done differently in future. Implement changes.
- If a staff member complains of an injury have them checked by a qualified doctor immediately as to ensure no further damage is done.
- apa.advsol.com.au
- www.workcover.com (all states)