
You should be wary of musculoskeletal injuries at work.
As Safe Work Australia Month draws to a close, the organisation is issuing a final reminder about what it claims to be Australia’s most common work-related injury.
According to Safe Work Australia, musculoskeletal disorders are still rife in workplaces around the country, and employers and employees alike must continue to take steps to avoid these preventable injuries.
The organisation says the most common types of musculoskeletal injuries are those related to the back, knee and shoulder. Such injuries are mainly caused by the lifting and handling of practically any heavy item, from crates and cartons to even other people in hospital settings.
“Every day over 200 people injure their joints, muscles or tendons at work seriously enough to require at least one week off work,” said Safe Work Australia CEO Rex Hoy in an October 21 media release.
With affected workers needing around five weeks of recovery, Mr Hoy went on to stress the wider impacts these injuries could have on business, such as lost productivity.
He also pointed out that the costs involved with implementing warehouse safety procedures, such as OHS training courses, are much less than those incurred by not having these systems in the first place. Poor work and health safety standards cost the nation over $60 billion every year, according to Safe Work Australia.
In light of this, Mr Hoy urged workers and employers to make a joint effort in reducing such incidents. Employees can reassess and correct their lifting techniques to alleviate strain on their bodies. On the other hand, those in charge can make improvements to their organisation’s manual handling procedures to reduce the physical stress on staff.
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