Work-Related Injuries and Diseases

Of the 10.8 million Australians who worked at some time in the 12 months to June 2006, 6.4% (690,000 people) experienced a work-related injury, with men experiencing a higher work-related injury rate than women. (Source:Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Social Trends 2007: Work Related Injuries)

Follow the links below to find information on the causes and prevention of injury and illness in the workplace.

Updated March 2011

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23 Resources Found

Results 1 to 20 displayed.     1  2 

Title:   Work-related fatalities
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   The National Occupational Health and Safety Commission conducted studies into work related deaths in Australia. Around 16 per cent of deaths are work related, with men accounting for around 90 per cent of those killed. The number of work related deaths decreased overall from 1982 to 1992.
Date:   Sep 2011
Title:   Work-related stress
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Work-related stress has many causes, including long hours, heavy workload, job insecurity, the threat of job loss or redundancy, and conflicts with other workers or bosses. Symptoms of work-related stress may include depression, anxiety, a drop in work performance, feelings of being overwhelmed, fatigue, headaches and an increase in sick days or absenteeism. Companies and employers should recognise work-related stress as a significant health and safety issue.
Date:   Aug 2011
Title:   Farm safety - handling animals
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Many injuries to farmers and farm workers occur when handling livestock. Animals are unpredictable, especially during the mating season or when protecting their young. Cattle, dogs, pigs, horses and sheep should be treated with caution. Attempting to lift or push animals can cause injury and animals are capable of transmitting certain diseases. Children should always be supervised around farm animals
Date:   Aug 2011
Title:   Farm safety - machinery
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Machinery is responsible for many deaths and injuries each year on farms. Particular culprits include tractors and quad bikes. Common tractor accidents involve roll-overs, run-overs and unguarded power take-off shafts. All tractors must have roll-over protection and always use seatbelts. Don't let passengers, in particular children, ride on a tractor.
Date:   Aug 2011
Title:   Farm safety - manual handling
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Farming is a very physical occupation and workers can injure themselves by lifting heavy loads such as chemicals, fertiliser, hay bales, calves, buckets, equipment, and also while handling animals. Most agricultural manual handling injuries involve the back and weight-bearing joints and the risk of injury can be minimised by good lifting techniques and safe working habits. Use mechanical lifting aids or get help to lift and carry heavy loads whenever possible.
Date:   Aug 2011
Title:   Farm safety - falls
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   Falls are a leading cause of significant injury and death for farm workers. Common hazards include animals, motorbikes or quad bikes (all terrain vehicles or ATVs), working at heights in silos or on tractors, harvesters, cherry pickers or windmills, uneven surfaces and uncovered wells. Older farmers are most at risk. Simple safety measures can reduce the danger.
Date:   May 2011
Title:   Farm safety - crush injuries
Publisher:   Better Health Channel
Description:   A crush injury occurs when the body or a body part is trapped, pinched or jammed under or between objects. The pressure can harm skin, muscles, nerves or bone, depending on the degree of force. On Victorian farms, the most commonly injured body parts are the hands and fingers.
Date:   May 2011
Title:   Interventions to promote the wearing of hearing protection
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Hearing loss due to noise exposure in the workplace is one of the most common occupational diseases. The condition is permanent and there is no effective treatment. Where the source of the noise cannot be eliminated, however, hearing loss can be minimis...
Date:   Apr 2011
Title:   Office ergonomics: tips for preventing muscle strain
Publisher:   Virtual Medical Centre.com
Description:   Muscle strain in the office has many contributors, such as the small repetitive movements used when operating a computer workstation. Here are some tips on preventing muscle strain in your office.
Date:   Mar 2011
Title:   Office ergonomics: preventing eye strain
Publisher:   Virtual Medical Centre.com
Description:   Eye strain in the office: The human eye is not designed for looking at a computer screen for prolonged periods. Eye health problems related to computer use are usually temporary, but can cause significant discomfort to computer users, and are largely preventable.
Date:   Mar 2011
Title:   Interventions for preventing occupational irritant hand dermatitis
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Occupational irritant hand dermatitis (OIHD) is an inflammatory reaction of the skin occurring in people who regularly come into contact with water, detergents, chemicals, and other irritants during their working day. Occupations at particular risk incl...
Date:   May 2010
Title:   Office ergonomics: managing mental health
Publisher:   Virtual Medical Centre.com
Description:   Risks to psychological health at work may arise from organisational or personal factors such as poor design of work and jobs, poor communication and interpersonal relationships, bullying or fatigue.
Date:   Apr 2010
Title:   Eye injuries in the workplace
Publisher:   Virtual Medical Centre.com
Description:   There are a range of agents found in workplaces that can cause eye diseases, disorders or injuries. While many of these agents are often also found in everyday living environments, exposure at dangerous levels is most likely to occur in the workplace.
Date:   Apr 2010
Title:   Caffeine for the prevention of injuries and errors in shift workers
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Sleepiness leads to a deterioration in performance and is associated with an increased risk of error and injury. Shift work is an major cause of sleepiness as it requires workers to be awake at times which are different to those dictated by their 'body ...
Date:   Apr 2010
Title:   Functional capacity evaluations for the prevention of occupational re-injuries in injured workers
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Functional capacity evaluation (FCE) is a method to assess physical capacity to perform certain tasks. It is believed that FCE can prevent re-injury if injured workers are assessed before they return to work and get proper recommendations on how to perf...
Date:   Dec 2009
Title:   Interventions to prevent occupational noise induced hearing loss
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   Millions of workers are exposed to noise levels that increase the risk of hearing loss and hearing impairment. In many countries there are mandatory hearing loss prevention programmes (HLPPs), which are considered an effective means to prevent noise ind...
Date:   Mar 2009
Title:   Workplace safety
Publisher:   Child and Youth Health - CYH (South Australia)
Description:   Getting a job in your teen years has many benefits. There are, however, risks associated with any new job. Far too often young workers get needlessly hurt.....
Date:   Nov 2011
Title:   Coal worker's pneumoconiosis (CWP)
Publisher:   Virtual Medical Centre.com
Description:   Coal worker's pneumoconiosis (CWP) is a disease of the lung resulting from the long-term inhalation of microscopic dust particles which was most commonly seen in coal worker's, hence the name. CWP affects the small airways and alveoli of the lung, particularly in the upper zones.
Date:   Feb 2008
Title:   Interventions for preventing injuries in the construction industry
Publisher:   John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. for The Cochrane Collaboration
Description:   A systematic search of the literature was conducted on preventing occupational injuries among construction workers. The quality of the studies was assessed and the effectiveness of interventions was evaluated. Five studies were identified. There is mod...
Date:   Aug 2007
Title:   Dermatitis - myDr.com.au
Publisher:   myDr
Description:   Dermatitis (inflammation of the skin), is a common problem which affects most people at some time. Find out about the most common types.
Date:   May 2007

Results 1 to 20 displayed.     1  2