WorkSafe hones in on injury hotspots

WorkSafe has taken a new approach to help businesses identify the safety risks affecting them and their workforce. The interactive ‘Injury Hotspots’ website uses five years’ of workplace injury insurance claims to provide a snapshot of how people get hurt, and what can be done to prevent injuries.

“It’s about reminding Victorians that there are real safety risks in all workplaces and that proven ways to control them exist,” WorkSafe’s Executive Director, John Merritt said.

The first Injury Hotspots cover Victoria’s high risk industries, including specific information for the Education sector. “Using strong graphics, Hotspots provide powerful evidence of the need to address known safety risks. They will help people understand their legal responsibilities, protect their workers and business, Mr Merritt said. “The accompanying safety solutions represent the typical expectations of a WorkSafe Inspector and provide clear easy-to-follow benchmarks for achieving safety. “It’s the first step toward preventing injuries, saving lives and ensuring quality of life is maintained.”

Key findings for the education sector include:

•Harassment, bullying and work pressure are taking a significant toll on education workers, with 19% of all claims citing work-related stress, anxiety or depression.

•Back, shoulder and arm injuries from assisting or restraining students, or moving equipment or furniture, account for over 30% of all injury claims.

•In education, computer use is commonly cited as a cause of neck strain, and muscle strain to the arm, forearm or wrist.

•Nearly half of all injury claims in the education sector are linked to slips, trips and falls.

The Injury Hotspots website can be accessed at www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/hotspots. Users can click on individual hotspots to find solutions and detailed advice, or download and share Injury Hotspots fact sheets for their industry. WorkSafe will release Injury Hotspots for up to a dozen more industries over the next few months.

Did you know:

•The cost of treatment and rehabilitation of nearly 29,000 workplace injury claims in 2006-07 exceeded $1.16 billion ($3.2m/day)

•32 work related fatalities reported to WorkSafe and another 66 life-threatening injuries in the same period.

•Four traumatic work-related deaths have been reported to WorkSafe Victoria since 1 January compared with eight at the same time last year.  

                                                                                                                    WorkSafe Media Release - March 2008