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Workplace Safety
Work Strain Causes Real Pain
22 January 2004
In 2001, more than 76,000 Australian workers received workers' compensation for 'sprain and strain' or musculoskeletal injuries' - that's more than 200 per day and two thirds of all claims.
However, we know that many more workers are suffering, because less than half the people who are injured at work receive any compensation. Often these are part time, casual and contract / agency workers. Some are forced out of the workforce due to their injuries and/or chronic pain.
Work strain causes injuries and pain to our backs, shoulders, necks, arms, wrists and our whole bodies. These are the most common health and safety problems in Australia.The term work strain covers physical and mental work strain and can be adapted to the particular issues in any industry or occupation. In addition to well-known manual handling injuries and pain, research is confirming that there is a strong link between psychosocial hazards (stress) at work and chronic musculoskeletal injuries and pain. Work intensification, dangerous hours, repetitive, monotonous work and unsafe manual tasks are the ingredients of an epidemic of work strain injuries and pain. Work strain causes real pain. Sprain and strain or musculoskeletal injuries have been around for a long time. They happen in all jobs and to all types of workers - from nurses to construction workers, from truck drivers to call centre workers, from teachers to manufacturing workers, and to retail, warehouse and office workers. Musculoskeletal injuries can be caused by a single event, such as lifting a heavy object or person. However, more often work strain builds up over time, causing chronic injury and pain.Work stress makes it worse. We are under pressure to work harder and faster. Too many workers are facing increasing workloads, longer hours, job insecurity, understaffing, stress, bullying, violence, deficient management and poor work organisation.People are feeling mental stress on top of physical work strain. Work stress can cause muscle tension, headaches and chronic pain in the neck, shoulders, arms and backs. Stress can also make existing injuries and pain worse. More people are likely to be suffering from work strain when workers have little or no say in how work is done. And, when people feel they have no choice but to keep on working while injured or in pain, the injuries persist and the pain just gets worse.There's no need for it. There have been health and safety laws in Australian states and territories for more than 15 years. These laws are meant to prevent work strain injuries, but many employers do not follow them and governments are not enforcing them. Despite the huge number of musculoskeletal injuries caused by work strain, less than 1% of the employers who caused them have been prosecuted.The laws aren't good enough. National health and safety standards do not recognise that stress can cause - as well as add to - work strain and pain.Research shows that excessive workloads, long hours and little or no worker control over how work is done can lead to musculoskeletal injuries and make them worse.What are employers doing? Too many employers are talking about workers needing to lift properly, to practise stress management, or they 'rotate' workers from one unsafe job to another. These "solutions" do not prevent work strain.On top of this, employers often intimidate and blame workers for being injured or in pain, when work strain is the cause.Employers should be:· consulting with workers and elected representatives on working conditions and health and safety - this should be ongoing· preventing work strain by eliminating unnecessary lifting, bending, twisting, carrying, repetitive tasks and awkward positions· ensuring that work stations and equipment are suitable for the tasks and do not cause injuries or pain· providing sufficient staff and resources for the job • ensuring that hours of work and work loads do not put workers under constant pressure Too many employers have a poor track record when it comes to genuinely involving workers in decision-making at work. This is despite conclusive evidence that workers having a say in decisions results in less injuries and health problems.Some people think that work strain is just 'part of the job'. This is not true. It is preventable and should be stopped.Common symptoms of work strain· painful necks and shoulders· aching or stabbing pains in arms or wrists· feelings of pins and needles· aching legs, knees and feet· backaches and back injuries· stress or tension headaches· continual tiredness / exhaustionFor more information, contact your union, your state/territory trades and labour council or call the ACTU. Union workplaces are safer places
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