Research from the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) shows Australian tradies are almost twice as likely to take good care of their tools as their bodies, despite having one of the highest injury rates of any occupation.

In a recent article the APA highlighted that many construction workers will often continue working with physical injuries to the detriment of their longer term physical and mental health.

Over many years Master Builders and WorkSafe have seen spikes in workers compensation claims from construction workers when there is a downturn in the construction industry. Construction workers will often only make the effort to seek treatment for their injuries when they stop work or when a project is finished. Workers will adjust their work activities or change the way they perform tasks so as to avoid the aches and pains but often these adjustments won’t make the injuries disappear and the only time they take themselves off to get their injuries treated is when the work stops.

The accumulation of physical injuries can also have an adverse affect on people’s mental health.

The APA is encouraging employers to get involved in talking to their employees about looking after their physical health by taking a preventative approach.