August is the month to focus on our tradies and their health! Tradies National Health month highlights the importance of tradies health and aims to raise awareness of the health risks affecting those who work in the trade industry.
This August, take the time to think about and prioritise your tradies health. Remember, health and safety are the joint responsibility of employers and employees.
According to Safe Work Australia data, tradies have amongst the highest serious injury and disease compensation claims in Australia. “Labourers, technicians, and machinery operators and drivers are among the top four occupations when it comes to number of serious injury claims.” (Source : Tradies in business.)
Trade Industry Statistics
Tradies reported in a survey that:
- 79% take good care of their tools. Only, 47% take good care of their bodies.
- 25% of tradies felt comfortable talking to co-workers about a mental health issue affecting their work, while 53% were open to discussing physical health concerns.
- 69% believed that it is normal to be sore as a result of the work they do
- 42% pushed their bodies past their healthy limits
- 68% follow safe lifting guidelines
- 60% of tradies often have aches and pains as a result of their job
- Less than a quarter of tradies will “warm up” before starting their day of physical activity.
- 2/3rd of tradies agree they would be more inclined to stretch or warm-up before starting work if their employer prioritised it.
- 3 out of 5 serious workplace injuries involve a tradie-despite making up only 35% of the workforce.
(Source : Tradies Health Survey 2019)
Health Risks
Due to the nature of the industry, tradies are at a higher risk of certain health issues.
- Skin cancer due to being exposed to the sun for extended periods of time
- Hearing Loss due
- Musculoskeletal disorders
- Alcohol and drugs
- Exposure to potentially harmful substances
- Occupational dust diseases
- Back issues
- Psychological pressure
- Depression and mental health
- Greater risk of injury from unsafe lifting
- Physical strain on the body and joints
- Poor nutrition
- Insufficient exercise
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂?
At WPH&S Vic we offer a range of services that can help your workplace support your tradies.
- Individual Health Assessments: Screening for heart health, diabetes, cholesterol, and body composition to determine a problem before it’s too late.
- Skin Checks
- Audiometry
- Spirometry
- Drug & alcohol testing and education
- Our dietitians can offer education what foods to eat at certain times of the day to fuel your brain, how to maintain a healthy body weight and basic nutrition for health and wellbeing.
- Our physiotherapists can assist with correct lifting techniques in the workplace, stretches and strength exercises to minimise the risk of workplace injury.
- Physiotherapist assessment
- Our psychologists can assist your team with their mental health.
Get in contact with us to help support your tradies – [email protected] or 0456 387 569.
(Source : Australian Physiotherapy Association.)