Australian workers at high-risk of injury illness

Researchers estimate between 25 and 36 per cent of workers are at high risk of future workplace injury or illness

Researchers estimate between 25 per cent and 36 per cent of Victorian workers were at high risk of workplace injury or illness. Picture: iStock

More than one-third of workers in Victoria could be at high risk of workplace injury or illness, a Mon­ash University study involving more than 2000 workers says.

Analysing the responses of 2053 Victorian workers to a questionnaire on the leading ­indicators of workplace health and safety, researchers estimated between 25 per cent and 36 per cent of workers were at high risk of workplace injury or illness.

Leading indicators are aspects of workplace activities that ­contribute to risk of future injury or illness.

They include exposure to hazards, workplace policies and procedures, employee aware­ness and engagement in health and safety, workplace safety culture and psychosocial relationships at work.

Workers were more likely to be rated as high-risk if they held ­multiple jobs or worked for multiple employers, reported weekly household income below $1500, worked for a government employer, or worked in the education and training or retail trade industries.

Workers were more likely to be rated as low to moderate risk if they were a business owner; worked for a single employer; worked in the professional, scientific and technical services industry; or had higher levels of education.

The study was conducted in late 2021 when many Victorian workers were being directed to work from home if possible.

Those working from home were more likely to be rated as low to moderate risk than those at their employer’s worksite.

The questionnaire asked workers to report any work-­related physical or mental injury, or any workplace close call over the previous year.

Data on lagging indicators were also collected to compare with leading indicator risk.

Almost one-quarter of workers reported a mental injury in the previous year; 19 per cent reported a physical injury and 18 per cent reported a close call in their workplace.

The most commonly reported mental injuries were stress, at 19.1 per cent and anxiety at 17.6 per cent.

The most commonly reported physical injuries were musculoskeletal disorders such as back/neck pain (7.4 per cent) and shoulder/limb pain (7 per cent), followed by cuts, bruising, crushing or amputation (6.1 per cent).

Collecting leading indicator data on a regular basis could help WorkSafe Victoria identify high-risk groups of workers and workplaces; monitor changes in workforce risks for work-related harm over time; and target work, health and safety to areas of greatest need.

One study author, Alex Collie, said the key message was about trying to measure things before they happened.

“The questionnaire is really designed to provide information that can guide prevention activities,” Professor Collie said.