Did you know that tradespeople account for around 20% of workplace injuries? And those are the ones we know about!
National Tradies Health Month is an initiative created by The Australian Physiotherapy Association to shine a light on the issue of workplace injury. Every day workers are putting their bodies under enormous physical stress all in the name of getting the job done, but it’s important to look after your physical health because at the end of the day – you can’t work with an injury.
The National Tradies Health Month website has some great videos with tips on how to maintain your physical health. We’ve put together a quick summary of some for you.
- Reverse your position – A couple of minutes each morning or night reversing your posture can go a long way.
- Plan your movements – The rush of a worksite can be disastrous for your back. Make sure you lift with your legs or grab a mate for the bigger stuff.
- Stretch – It’s not always the most fun to be had on a work site or after tools down but it’s bloody important! You’ll notice the difference as soon as your start.
- Don’t ignore it – If your hip or back is starting to hurt, get it checked out by a physio! Something little can turn into something big before you know it.
Keeping these things in mind whilst on the tools can be a job or life saver in the long run!