Tradies National Health Month

Lifting injures are among the most common, and most costly workplace injuries. Due to the pain involved, these kinds of occupational injuries can easily affect your ability to work effectively – or not at all in some cases.

As well as workplace accidents, you may also be able to claim work injury compensation for a recurrence, aggravation, acceleration, exacerbation or deterioration of any pre-existing injury impacted by your lifting injury.

The most common lifting injury from lifting is to the lower back. However, all parts of the body involved in the lifting motion can be affected, including the head and neck, shoulders, elbows, hands, hips and knees.

Common lifting injuries include slipped discs, hernias, severe strains, rotator cuff injuries and tendinitis.

Making a workers’ compensation claim when you’re in a fly in-fly out (FIFO) job can be an additional level of legal red tape, so it pays to seek legal advice as soon as possible.

The benefits you may receive under FIFO compensation vary greatly depending on the seriousness of your injury and the law under which you're covered.

As well as workplace accidents, you may also be able to claim work injury compensation for a recurrence, aggravation, acceleration, exacerbation or deterioration of any pre-existing injury or disease impacted by your work.

Injuries including cancers, strokes, asthmas, heart conditions and degenerative conditions are often made worse by employment. In some states you may be able to claim for injuries sustained during a normal recess, such as lunchtime or morning and afternoon tea breaks.

Common muscular injuries in the workplace include slips, trips, and strains, along with repetitive strain injuries (RSI) resulting from lifting and moving too frequently without resting. Workplace muscular injuries may also include bruising, pulled muscles, torn ligaments, hip and shoulder injuries, strained neck muscles and persistent lower back pain.

Muscular injuries in the workplace caused by slipping, tripping or straining are more common than you might think. Even simple things, like a worn workstation mat or haphazardly-stored boxes can cause you to slip or trip.

A strained neck or persistent lower back pain can affect you for years, making it difficult to sit, twist, turn or sleep. These, together with hip and shoulder injuries, can severely limit your movement and impact your ability to work.

Not all workplace injuries are physical. You may be eligible to claim workers injury compensation for psychological trauma if events in the workplace have had a lasting impact on your psychological, emotional and physical wellbeing, as a result of - or in the course of - your employment.

You may also be able to claim work injury compensation for a recurrence, aggravation, acceleration, exacerbation or deterioration of any pre-existing psychological condition impacted by your work. Symptoms of trauma typically include stress, anxiety, depression, guilt, and anger, as well as fatigue, disorientation, poor concentration and social withdrawal.

These kinds of injuries can affect your ability to work effectively, or at all, and can lead to lost income and other expenses, such as payments for medical and psychological treatments. That's why you should receive the compensation that you deserve.