WorkSafe Victoria has launched a new proactive inspection program focused on the prevention of musculoskeletal injuries, which are currently the most common injury amongst construction workers.
Caused mostly by lifting heavy or awkward loads, or slips or trips on worksites, injuries of this nature are the basis of more than 6,200 injury claims made by construction workers, with more than 40 per cent of those workers needing more than four weeks off work.
WorkSafe Victoria construction program manager, Dermot Moody, has explained that the ongoing impact of musculoskeletal disorders could be devastating, but with small changes, they were mostly preventable.
“A soft tissue injury to a back, shoulder, or wrist can be long-term, debilitating and often career-ending. The frustrating part is that most of these injuries are easily preventable and don’t require a great deal of time or money to reduce the risk.”
WorkSafe Victoria has explained that it will have inspectors visiting construction sites in the coming weeks to ensure sites are addressing and managing the hazards and risks associated with musculoskeletal disorders.
Mr Moody has urged all building industry employers and contractors to take it as an opportunity to revisit and reassess the effectiveness of their injury prevention programs.
“Don’t leave safety to chance or so-called ‘common sense’. Be proactive and get appropriate controls in place before an incident occurs rather than after the fact” he said.