Yesterday marked the start of National Safe Work Month, a campaign to raise awareness about Work Health and Safety (WHS) in the Australian working community. For the month of October, we will be providing you with tips and advice for reducing your chances of suffering from injury or illness in the workplace.
Poor WHS practices commonly lead to the development of injuries and illnesses in the workplace, with financial costs to the community estimated around $61.8 billion in 2012-13. These costs cover the compensation payments to injured workers, loss of productivity and potential output, and the cost of providing welfare or rehabilitation programs to injured workers.
Good WHS practices look at the work, the physical working environment and the way the workers interact with the environment. It is the interaction between these three factors that can influence a worker’s chance of sustaining an injury in the workplace.
As an Osteopath, neck and back pain are the two most common injuries we see in clinic – with many cases of lower back pain being attributed to poor work design or sustained awkward postures in the workplace. Workplace office ergonomic assessments are being increasingly used by leading workplaces to prioritise and highlight the importance of safety in the workplace.
Ergonomic assessments provided by a trained professional can assist a company in creating a culture and environment where its workers are free from risks to their health and safety. The aim of these assessments is to eliminate or reduce the risk of injuries and illnesses associated with work tasks. If you would like further information about office ergonomic assessments or to book one for your workers, click below and fill out our contact form.
