Hidden workplace injuries have the biggest cost

WorkSafe has launched a concerted assault on the state’s biggest source of workplace injuries which cost the Victorian community $600-million dollars a year in treatment and rehabilitation bills.
A new advertising campaign which began last night shows the graphic and instant, consequences of manual handling injuries and slips trips and falls.
They account for more than 60% of all reported workplace injuries* – more than 17,000 a year in Victoria. The average cost of treating these people through Victoria’s workers compensation system averages $45,000 per claim.
Individuals suffer greatly, often long-term, from what are almost always totally preventable injuries.
WorkSafe inspectors will back-up the campaign with workplace visits targeting these issues over the next few months.
Target sectors for both parts of the campaign are injuries that cause:
back pain,
muscular sprains and sprains,
soft tissue injuries to the neck, arms, shoulders and legs,
abdominal hernias,
carpal tunnel syndrome,
tendonitis,
fractures and dislocations.
A special website has also been set up at www.worksafe.vic.gov.au.
It gives examples of safety issues and solutions across 10 industry sectors, provides tips on raising potential safety issues with employers and workers, safety posters and information on what WorkSafe inspectors look for when dealing with these issues.   
WorkSafe’s Executive Director, John Merritt, said these injuries were often not taken seriously in the community, written off as ‘accidents’ or seen as ‘just part of the job’.
“There's no ‘blood on the floor’ or spectacular images on the nightly TV news or in the morning paper, yet the consequences of these injuries are enormous for individuals, their loved ones and their employers,”
The television advertisements use computer imagery and lightning-fast editing to take viewers inside the body to see bones break and tissue tear.
“This campaign should make every employer think about what they expect people to do and how they do it and workers to consider the consequences of what they do.”
“Today, employers should be looking at the potential injuries causes by poor manual handling practices, repetitive work which can cause damage slowly and the often-present potential for slips trips and falls.
“If they don’t, individuals will continue to lose quality of life and many, the capacity to work for at least a short period, some require surgery or have permanent pain and never fully recover.
“For employers productivity is cut, there may be staff replacement costs, retraining and safety improvements to be made after the event. Industries lose people permanently.
Manual handling issues, slips, trips and falls will be a major focus of workshops and events at this year’s Work Safe Week (October 26-30). Book online and get more details at www.worksafe.vic.gov.au.
* Based on Victorian Workers compensation claims where people are off work 10 days or more and / or medical treatment costs in excess of $520.

Via http://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/WorkSafe/Home/