Tradies National Health Month

August is Tradies National Health Month, and the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) is raising awareness of the risks posed to those who work in trade occupations. Tradies National Health Month helps raise awareness of the health and injury risks affecting those who work in trade occupations – among tradies themselves, their families, employers and the wider community.

 

Australia’s trade industry continues to have among the highest health and safety issues of any sector.

 

So to help out Tradies, physiotherapists are calling on tradies to take care of their most valuable asset – their health. It comes as Aussie tradies continue to have some of the poorest health and injury outcomes compared to other workers.

 

According to the latest Safe Work Australia statistics*, tradies make up less than one third (30 per cent) of the Australian workforce yet account for almost three in five (58 per cent) serious workplace injuries.

 

The APA campaign aims to engage and empower tradies to maintain their health and wellbeing, and seek preventive treatment before small ‘niggles’ become more serious chronic injuries.

 

Most tradies assume a few aches and pains are part and parcel of their demanding physical work, but few seek regular preventive health checks which can significantly reduce common musculoskeletal conditions, including muscle/tendon injuries, knee, shoulder and back pain.

 

So if you’re feeling in need of a check up, find a physio near you now!

 

For more information about how physiotherapy can help keep tradies in top condition visit www.choose.physio/fortradies

 

 

* Safe Work Australia 2015-16 National Data Set for Compensation-based Statistics

 

About the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA)

The APA is the peak body representing the interests of Australian physiotherapists and their patients. It is a national organisation with state and territory branches and 21 specialty subgroups. The APA represents more than 25,000 members who conduct more than 23 million consultations each year.