National Safe Work Month occurs each October, offering an ideal opportunity to foster safer, healthier workplace conditions. During this time, businesses are strongly encouraged to incorporate work safety measures such as the implementation of a Bluesafe WHS Management System or conducting comprehensive SWMS. These systems and policies play a critical role in creating safe environments for workers.
SafeWork NSW has taken a proactive step in managing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) specific to the workplace. MSDs, although preventable, account for 52% of all severe work-related injuries and diseases in New South Wales. These conditions result in an average loss of 20 work weeks per affected individual.
Workers face potential hazards such as repetitive movements, substantial lifting, and accidental falls that can result in injuries to muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints. Psychosocial hazards, including excessive workload, stress, bullying, and inadequate supervisory support, equally contribute towards an elevated risk of developing MSDs.
SafeWork NSW is unveiling a useful range of webinars about MSDs, providing insight into risk management, injury prevention, and workplace-based legal responsibilities for employers and employees alike. An integral part of their strategy includes participation in the Musculoskeletal Disorder Prevention Plan to 2026. Their commitment spans collaborating with influential stakeholders to ensure workplaces understand and effectively address MSD risks.
Employers can significantly reduce instances of these preventable disorders by devoting resources to robust workplace safety measures like Bluesafe WHS Management Systems. Other measures include reconfiguring tasks to eliminate hazardous manual activities, regularly updating risk controls, and providing appropriate WHS training.
Access to these informative webinars, which also consist of multilingual resources catering to diverse cultural and linguistic communities, is available via the Preventing Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) webinar series. The Musculoskeletal Disorder Prevention Plan to 2026 can be downloaded from the SafeWork NSW website.
In the words of Trent Curtin, Head of SafeWork NSW, “MSDs are entirely preventable workplace conditions. However, they make up more than half of serious workers’ compensation claims in NSW. Workers may develop these injuries and diseases gradually or abruptly, affecting their physical and mental health. It can impact business productivity as well.” He further highlighted the role of employers in prioritising safety, stating, “SafeWork NSW’s webinars guide employers on understanding the effects of MSDs, considering their legal obligations, and protecting their workers better.”
Original article link: https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/news/safework-media-releases/work-shouldnt-hurt-prevent-musculoskeletal-disorders-this-safe-work-month