Injured at work? Did you know that if a workplace injury occurs, research has shown that the employee bears the brunt of the cost?
Your employer has a legal duty to provide a safe work environment; sadly, accidents happen, and workers can suffer serious injuries like broken bones, internal organ damage, musculoskeletal disorders, open wounds, and other injuries.
QLD Workers Compensation: Your Rights
If you are a Queensland worker, you are insured by QLD WorkCover. Consequently, you can make a workers’ compensation claim when you suffer a work-related injury or illness. However, your weekly benefits are a percentage of your usual wage, not your full income.
Australian Statistics for Workplace Injuries
Workplace injuries still happen even though your employer is legally obligated to provide you with a safe and healthy working environment. According to a statistical report from Safe Work Australia, there were 104,770 compensation claims for work-related incidents in 2017. Of these:
- Labourers lodged 25% of workers’ compensation claims.
- 18% by Technicians and Trades Workers
- 16% by Community and Personal Service Workers
So, how can you reduce your risk of a work-related injury? An excellent place to start is to know the most common causes of harm associated with your line of work and understand your rights regarding work health and safety.
Below, we examine the leading causes of common injuries at work and provide tips and suggestions for avoiding them.
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1. Body Stressing / Repetitive Strain (39.3%)
The most typical type of workplace injury that employees experience is musculoskeletal injuries and repetitive strain injury (RSI). RSI is often associated with workplace hand injuries, but repetitive strain also causes severe neck and back injury.
While repetitive motion can cause musculoskeletal disorders, they are also triggered by pulling, pushing, and lifting hazards. Risky manual lifting is to blame for more than half of upper-limb injuries.
Repetitive strain injuries occur in multiple industries but are often associated with white-collar workers who work mainly on a computer doing repetitive tasks. Both white and blue-collar employees are at risk of developing RSI, as are workers in the age range of 35 to 54. If your job requires you to do these tasks, you have a higher risk:
- Performing a repetitive motion that stresses your muscles
- Having a prior injury in that area of your body
- Keeping the same physical position for an extended period
- Maintaining bad posture while working
- Having overall poor physical health
If you work in these industries, you are more at risk of acquiring RSI:
- Hairdressing and beauty
- Construction and mining
- Manufacturing on an assembly line
- Plumbing and Electrical
- Using a keyboard for extended periods
- Massage and other physical therapy
- Packing Goods
- Playing a musical instrument
You can prevent muscular and joint stress by
- Providing adequate training and supervision for carrying out tasks (such as training for proper lifting techniques)
- Having a qualified Work Health and Safety inspector regularly check workstations for the risk of muscular stress
- Practicing good posture and taking regular breaks.
2. Falls, Trips and Slips (23%)
Are you aware that the number two causes of workplace injuries in Queensland are slips, trips, and falls? These kinds of accidents account for nearly a third of all reported occupational injuries. Generally, a work-related injury due to a slip, trip or fall is frequently caused by physical work conditions, such as:
- Poor lighting
- Slippery surfaces
- Wrong footwear
And physical hazards such as:
- Cabling
- Goods not stored
And behavioural factors such as:
- Running instead of walking
- Distracted by electronic devices
- Lack of Sleep
Typical physical damage from a slip, trip or fall includes:
- Bruising, abrasions, strains and sprains
- Cuts and bleeding
- Disc injuries
- Work-related back injuries
- Dislocation of joints
- Fractures of joints
Back and spine injuries are a common outcome of an accident at work caused by a slip, trip or fall.
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3. Toppling incidents / being hit by moving objects (15.4%)
Safe Work Australia’s report found that falling objects accounted for 29% of all workplace fatalities, making it the second most common cause after vehicle accidents in 2016.
If you operate with heavy objects or work in an environment with shelves, you may be susceptible to serious injuries like abrasions, concussions, and the like. To prevent such injuries, you must follow the Workplace Health and Safety procedures implemented by your employer and ensure you wear the correct safety gear.
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4. Psychological or Mental Health Injuries (5.8%)
The causes of mental health conditions at work are many and varied. Workplace stress and trauma can originate from several circumstances.
- Workplace bullying and harassment
- Exposure to workplace violence
- High-pressure working environment
- Working too many hours
- Poor job role clarity
- Failure to manage change
- Poor working conditions
- Inability to control workplace behaviour
- Micromanagement
- Repetitive and Boring tasks
These factors can all contribute to high levels of stress, which, if prolonged, can lead to psychological or physical work-related injuries. Under Australian legislation, your employer has a duty to protect you from psychological stress. To prevent workplace mental stress, your employer should encourage regular breaks and create work processes that maintain good office morale for you and your colleagues.
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5) Vehicle Incidents (2.4%)
Workplace accidents resulting from vehicle incidents are a common cause of workplace injury. This includes accidents such as:
- Forklift/motor-vehicle operation accidents
- Road accidents by employees commuting to work
- Cargo/ delivery truck accidents
These accidents can have profound implications. Therefore, it’s essential to ensure that you wear seatbelts when driving and follow all other safety precautions your employer implements to protect your safety and health in the workplace.
More about car accident claims >
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About Workers Compensation Claims
In Queensland, you can claim financial support for most work-related injuries, such as weekly payments and reimbursement of health care and rehabilitation costs. Generally, many injuries, illnesses, and mental health conditions qualify for workers’ compensation benefits.
Splatt Lawyers provides work-related injury legal services on a 100% no win no fee basis, which means you have no financial risk when seeking advice for a workers’ compensation claim. There are no upfront costs. Call Now: 1800 700 125
Common Law Damages for Serious Injury
Some workplace accidents are more severe and result in serious workers’ compensation claims involving permanent impairment. In this situation, you could claim a permanent impairment payout and common law damages for employer negligence.
It’s free to know your legal rights if this is your situation. Call Splatt Lawyers now at 1800 700 125
Top Ideas for Minimising Your Risk of Workplace Accidents
Often, injuries at work happen when workplace safety is not the main focus. In Queensland, your employer has a general duty of care to provide a safe and healthy workplace. However, all employees must keep each other safe. Being active in raising awareness of risks in your workplace is an excellent place to begin injury prevention.
a) Workplace Health and Safety
Large employers typically have an official Workplace Health and Safety program that monitors injuries and takes steps to prevent them in the future. When workplace harm is documented in one place, employers can take action to minimise future risks.
b) Raise Workplace Risk Awareness
Understanding the circumstances in which a worker can be injured at work presents a chance to raise awareness. Training workers in safe manual handling procedures and monitoring their performance will help minimise risk. Ensuring employees take breaks and avoid distractions from devices can also be beneficial when performing risky tasks.
c) Work Health and Safety Audit
When organisations strive to reduce workplace injury rates, they often conduct a WHS risk assessment. This report seeks to document work hazards, measure risk and review the controls that are currently in place. By doing this, employers improve their workplace and provide a safer working environment.
What to Do If You Have a Work-Related Injury
However your work-related injuries occurred, you may be eligible to make a worker’s compensation claim for injuries in the workplace. But, workers’ compensation laws can be complex.
In Queensland, you have the right to seek legal advice from a workers’ compensation lawyer regarding the claim process and your rights. At Splatt Lawyers, knowing if you are eligible to receive workers’ compensation is free, and all our legal services are 100% no-win, no fee. Get support now by Calling: 1800 700 125.
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