WORKSAFE Victoria has released a checklist for preventing ‘unseen’ workplace injuries, or musculoskeletal disorders.
Musculoskeletal disorders include bad backs, sprained knees, twisted ankles, torn cartilages, strained wrists, carpal tunnel syndrome, hernias and tendonitis. According to WorkSafe Victoria, these are injuries which cannot be seen, since there is no wound or broken bone.
Musculoskeletal disorders affect muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments and nerves, and are the most common type of injury. They are often caused by manual handling, and slips, trips and falls.
WorkSafe Victoria says manual handling work can be hazardous when it involves repetitive or forceful movement, awkward postures, continuous exposure to vibration from machinery and equipment or loads that are hard to grasp or hold. The longer these physical tasks are done, the greater the risk.
One in five workers suffers an ‘unseen’ injury as a result of a slip, trip or fall at work, and most of these occur at ground level. They can happen in any part of the workplace that people have access to.
The WorkSafe Victoria checklist is a document which can help prevent workplace manual handling injuries and slips, trips and falls.
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