Tradies National Health Month
Young apprentices are often taught to "Take care of your tools and they will take care of you". This message however seems to get lost when it comes to looking after their own bodies. 79% of tradies report taking good care of their equipment while less than half say they take good care of their body. It is hardly surprising then that 3 in 5 serious work place injuries involve a tradie, despite making up only 30% of the work force.
Nearly two thirds of Aussie tradies reporting being injured on the job and half of those report that they expect that they will get injured again. The expectation that aches and pains are "just part of the job" that more than half of tradies believe doesn't have to be true. But a culture of being seen as a 'wuss' for complaining about has potentially contributed to tradies not seeking treatment or delaying treatment following an injury and letting it become a bigger problem requiring longer recovery or developing into a chronic injury.
Workplace injuries not only affect people physically, 20% of tradies report mental health issues arising from a workplace injury and 65% have lost income due to extended time off work due to an injury.
Australian Physiotherapy Associations recommendations for looking after yourself at work include:
Warm up each morning before you start work with some targeted stretches.
Pace your workload and rate throughout the day to avoid issues related to overuse and fatigue.
Communicate well with your workmates to ensure you are working in the most efficient and safe manner.
Be willing to speak up if you feel uneasy about the level of risk you are exposed to at work.
Don’t put yourself at risk of injury by rushing.
Be willing to say ‘no’ when required to ensure both your own safety and that of others, even if it might make you unpopular at that moment. Worksite supervisors and employers are legally responsible for safe worksites and conditions and will be held accountable if there are breaches of work site regulations.
Seek advice from your physiotherapist if you experience any aches or pains that are persistent, rather than waiting till it’s bad enough to stop you from continuing work.
Manage injuries immediately with the RICE method (rest, ice, compression, and elevation).
Our physiotherapists are experienced in the management of a broad spectrum of musculoskeletal injuries. They will conduct a thorough assessment to diagnose sources of pain, identify contributing factors and implement a variety of treatments such as soft tissue massage, manual therapies, dry needling and exercise rehabilitation to get you back to work and the activities you enjoy sooner.
Don’t let small niggles develop chip away at you and develop into a more serious complaint. Take care of your most important piece of equipment, yourself, by seeking treating early and let us help you feel better for work and the weekends. Call us on 4861 1223 or book online via our website today.