Tradies National Health Month aims to raise awareness of the health and injury risks affecting those who work in trade occupations.
Promoted by the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA), the month also encourages good health for tradies’ families, employers and the wider community.
According to Safe Work Australia, nearly three in five serious workplace injuries involve a tradie. This is despite tradies making up only 35 per cent of the workforce.
The most common injury for trade workers is back pain. Other common injuries for tradies include:
- Shoulder issues related to repetitive reaching and holding actions with the arms.
- Knee injuries related to repetitive bending to the ground.
- Ankle sprains related to working on uneven ground.
The APA recommends tradies follow a few simple steps to help reduce the chance of injury. These include:
- Take a few minutes when you are about to start a job to think it through. Ask yourself: Is this the best way? Am I using the correct tools for the job? Do I need any help? Is it safe to proceed? If you answer ‘yes’ to all these questions, get to it. If not, then change something until it is safe to finish the job.
- Be mindful of what else is going on in your life and how it can influence your work. Many tradies get hand injuries when their mind is not completely on the job. We all know the dangers of not paying attention while driving – the same goes when swinging a hammer or using a rattle gun.
- Seek advice from your physiotherapist as soon as you feel a niggle. Get advice on how to prevent it happening in the future.