So what are the most common workplace health and safety risks? And how can employers and employees work together to ensure workplaces protect the health and safety of everyone? 

Strains and sprains 

In any industry where workers perform a large amount of physical labour, the risk of bodily injury is substantial. 

Safe Work Australia reported that in 2020, fatalities in agriculture, forestry and fishing, transport, postal and warehousing, construction, and manufacturing accounted for more than 75 per cent of workplace fatalities for the year. 

The report also includes statistics on “serious claims”, defined as “all accepted compensation claims for an incapacity that results in a total absence from work of one working week or more”. By far, the greatest cause of injuries resulting in such claims was “body stressing”, at 37 per cent. 

“Be sure to use correct manual handling techniques when lifting and shifting, pushing and pulling,” says Acclaimed Workforce’s Injury Management and Safety Manager, Sarah Will. “If it’s too heavy stop and ask for help.” 

Sarah also advises workers talk to their employer about job rotation, using lifting aids and reducing risks around manual handling. 

Safe Work Australia has provided detailed resources on specific potentially hazardous tasks, including the operation of industrial rope access systems, concrete pumping, elevating work platforms, and working in heat. 

Slips and trips 

Offices bring with them their own physical hazards. Safe Work Australia reported that slips, trips and falls accounted for 23 per cent of injuries that resulted in a serious claim. Again, there are a number of things office workers and managers can do to significantly reduce the risk of such injuries: 

• Always use handrails when going up and downs stairs 
• “Look before you leap” − move your eyes before your feet so you can see any trip hazards 
• Never have cords across walkways 
• Clean up spills immediately or use signs to highlight slippery surfaces 
• Make sure housekeeping inspections are done on all office areas to ensure items are stored away correctly and unnecessary clutter is removed 

Roles that require sitting for long periods of time in front of a computer also pose a physical risk. 

Work stations should be set up to allow for proper posture and to minimise eye strain. Also consider chair and desk height, screen size and proximity, and accessibility of regularly used items and accessories to minimise over-reaching and repeated awkward movements. 

Workers should be encouraged to practise good posture and take regular breaks to stretch, rest their eyes and move around. 

OHS at home 

Of course, many companies allow for hybrid and remote working arrangements. It is worth remembering Workplace Health and Safety laws still apply if employees work from home. Businesses must eliminate or minimise health and safety risks to such workers as much as they reasonably can. 

Companies allowing employees to work from home should consider conducting physical checks of workers’ home office set-ups to ensure they meet occupational health and safety standards. 

Speak up for safety 

Whatever your industry or work environment, it is important to report unsafe conditions and behaviour to your supervisor or manager. When it comes to workplace injuries, prevention really is the best medicine. 

If injuries do occur, you should immediately report the incident to your supervisor or manager and get first aid or medical treatment as required. 

Bayside Group is ISO 45001 certified for OHS, and provide workplace safety management services for contingent workforces. Contact us today to find out how we can assist you. 

This week we’ve focused on physical health. Next week’s National Work Safe Month theme will consider workers’ mental health and the impacts of psychosocial injury for employers and workers. Check back then for advice on how to identify psychosocial hazards and manage psychosocial risk.