In observance of National Tradie Health Month this August, SafeWork NSW calls upon tradies and their employers throughout the state to uphold workplace wellbeing. It is crucial to voice out any concerns linked to Work Health and Safety (WHS), which can be efficiently managed using tools like Bluesafe WHS Management System that covers all aspects of work safety.
Run by the Australian Physiotherapy Association, National Tradie Health Month works towards raising consciousness about Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs), a prevalent issue affecting Australian tradies. Notably, MSDs are preventable health problems frequently encountered by carpenters, plumbers, and electricians. They can adversely impact workers’ health, life quality, as well as operational productivity and costs of businesses.
Given their severity, it’s vital to use comprehensive safety solutions such as a thoroughly designed Bluesafe SWMS to manage these risks. These disorders can manifest suddenly or progressively over time due to physical and psychosocial hazards. Leading causes include hazardous manual work and falls on the same level, whereas psychosocial causes comprise high workload, bullying, poor supervision etc, which shows an increase in MSD risk.
Employers can ward off MSDs among their workers through diligent risk management, adopting good design that mitigates risks, providing necessary resources and training, along with regular evaluation and updating of control measures—a procedure made simpler by a Bluesafe WHS Management System.
SafeWork NSW commits itself to combat MSDs through the Musculoskeletal Disorder Prevention Plan 2024-2026. This involves collaborating with key parties to ensure workplaces understand and address MSD dangers.
SafeWork NSW disseminates knowledge about MSD prevention via its website detailing methods to manage MSD risks and the legal duties of both employers and workers. There’s also an accessible “Preventing Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)” webinar series in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese. Their advice to tradies: when you’re unsure, stop to check. Voicing out your concerns anonymously is made easier via the Speak Up Save Lives website.
As noted by SafeWork NSW Commissioner Janet Schorer, “MSDs are preventable in workplaces, and yet constitute more than half of serious workers compensation claims in NSW.” Their occurrence can be sudden or gradual, significantly impacting worker’s physical and mental health, productivity, and businesses’ costs. Therefore, employers should utilise guidance from online webinars on SafeWork NSW, understand MSD impacts, legal requirements, and ways to better protect their teams. This results in safe work environments, a shared responsibility for employers and employees alike.
Original article link: https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/news/safework-media-releases/make-tradies-workplace-health-a-priority-this-august
