Female nurses, male truck drivers the most hurt at work as police officers and teachers battle mental health problems
New data has flagged concerns about deteriorating mental health among police officers, educators and healthcare professionals. And the WorkSafe statistics have revealed the men and women at highest risk of physical harm at work.
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Mental health battles were the leading cause of injury claims for Victoria’s police officers and school teachers last year, new data has revealed.
And truck driving was the most dangerous job for men, with nurses, personal care and nursing assistants the riskiest professions for women.
More than 330 police and 220 teachers claimed the workplace led to poor mental health for them in 2019, with the struggle making up more than 42 per cent of total WorkSafe claims for police and close to 27 per cent of teachers.
And 938 healthcare and social assistance workers — including paramedics — battled mental health and more than 1880 musculoskeletal injuries.
Close to 30,000 claims were made in 2019, with more than 22,000 incidents occurring in the workplace last year.
The new gender and area-specific details come as Victoria’s shock workplace fatality toll continued to grow when Dandenong mother-of-two Emily Liang was crushed to death by a falling piece of stone in a sickening accident at a stone factory in Dingley on May 6.
Data obtained by the Leader unveiled carpentry and joinery tradespersons and police officers as the next worst-hit occupations for men behind truck driving, with muscular stress when handling, lifting, carrying and putting down objects the biggest reason for injury (5190 claims) in front of being hit by a moving object (1663 claims) and falls not from height (1465 claims).
A WorkSafe spokesman said the nature of the work in the road transport industry made it high risk “with potential hazards including fatigue, long periods without physical activity, exposure to mental stress, falls from height and manual handling of heavy weights while loading and unloading goods”.
“WorkSafe regularly coordinates with other government agencies and regulators to ensure employers are meeting their occupational health and safety obligations, while collaborating with the road transport industry and unions on strategies to reduce injuries in the sector.”
Female registered nurses and welfare and community workers were the most hurt at work behind personal care and nursing assistants, with muscular stress dominating the injury reason list (2770 claims) ahead of falls not from height (1555 claims) and work- related harassment and or workplace bullying (1152 claims).
The City of Melbourne led the state’s injuries list with more than 2400 claims followed by Hume (1582 claims) Greater Dandenong (1478) and Monash (1161).
The safest areas were Nillumbik with 95 claims, Bayside with 148 and Manningham with 197.
The staggering injury list showed close to 670 claims were made by the state’s carers and aides as a result of musculoskeletal injuries.
Musculoskeletal problems, wounds, lacerations and amputations topped the injury list for manufacturing workers.
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Behind mental health, musculoskeletal and fracture injuries were the next two most common claims for teachers and musculoskeletal and traumatic tendon, muscle and ligament injury the for police officers.
WorkSafe said mental health was a growing issue for all Victorian workers and especially those who dealt with trauma as part of their job.
“Employers need to create an environment where workers are encouraged to discuss any mental health concerns, as early intervention is a critical part of a safe system of work,” the spokesman said.
“WorkSafe is supporting a number projects aimed at improving mental health outcomes for vulnerable groups of workers, including those on the frontline, through programs funded by the $50 million WorkWell initiative launched in 2017.”