Accident toll rises

By MARA PATTISON-SOWDEN
SLIPS, trips, falls and dangerous manual handling make up more than half of injuries workers claim for in the Yarra Ranges.
More than 1400 workers claimed for musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) over the last five years in the Yarra Ranges, forcing Victorian employers to fork out almost $1 billion a year to treat.
Over the last five years, claims for injuries such as broken bones, crook backs, sprains and torn ligaments have come from 316 workers in manufacturing, 202 from health care and social assistance, 184 from construction, 116 from education and training and 108 from wholesale trade throughout the Yarra Ranges.
WorkSafe’s Health and Safety Director Ian Forsyth said MSIs accounted for more than half of Victoria’s 29,000 serious injury claims every year.
“While Victoria has achieved a record-low rate of injury among workers and its workplaces are the safest they’ve been, we are still seeing thousands of workers hurt every year,” he said.
“A lot of these are a result of basic issues that can easily be prevented.”
Mr Forsyth said the statistics were a concern employers, supervisors and company directors must act on.
“It’s costing them money and it’s hurting the people who work for them,” he said.
“Very often, people often know what has to be done to get the job done safely, but shortcuts can be taken.
“Often, it can be a shortcut to a serious health problem.”
Mr Forsyth said it cost an average of $55,000 in medical costs, wages and other expenses to treat a musculoskeletal injury.
“In many industries, $55,000 is the equivalent of employing a person,” he said.
“In most situations, preventing the injury would have cost far less and ensured productivity was maintained.”