Australian Tradies To Watch More Than Just Their Backs During Tradies National Health Month

Australian Tradies To Watch More Than Just Their Backs During Tradies National Health Month
Leigh Buglass
By Leigh Buglass



The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) is leading the charge for Tradies National Health Month to educate Australian tradies to keep a check on their safety, health and wellbeing.

The Block and Reno Rumble favourites Kyal and Kara Demmrich (‘The Super Ks’) will help lead the campaign, using their respective backgrounds of carpenter and physiotherapist to spread the message that health and wellbeing must be tradies’ most important tools.

APA national president Marcus Dripps said it is important to remind tradies that their health and safety is a priority.

“This Tradies National Health Month, we want tradies to look after all aspects of their health and wellbeing,” Dripps said.

“Everyone – from tradies to their employers, unions and the communities and governments that rely on them – has a role to play in getting our tradies to be proactive about managing and preventing health conditions. It starts with seeking evidence-based treatments like physiotherapy.”

Tradies have among the highest serious injury and disease compensation claims in Australia, according to Safe Work Australia data. Labourers, technicians, and machinery operators and drivers are among the top four occupations when it comes to number of serious injury claims.

The majority of serious claims are from injuries and musculoskeletal disorders, including traumatic joint/ligament and muscle/tendon injuries. While backs still present the highest proportion of body stress injury claims, other body parts affected include upper limbs, lower legs, hips, the abdomen and the pelvic region.

Research also shows tradespersons, labourers and workers across the agricultural and construction industries have high risks of chronic health conditions.

 

Tradies National Health Month will kick off on 1 August 2016.




Latest News