National WorkSpace Week (21-27 October 2024)
An innovative national health awareness initiative of the Australian Chiropractors Association (ACA), national WorkSpace Week on 21-27 October 2024, is dedicated to the prevention and early intervention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) because WorkSpace health is EveryBODY’s business!
Aligned with Safe Work Australia’s ‘Australian Work Health and Safety (WHS) Strategy 2023–2033’, ACA’s WorkSpace Week is at the forefront of prevention and early intervention of WMSD’s aimed at reducing the incidences and the impact WMSDs have on millions of Australians that costs the economy over $55 billion annually in lost productivity, absenteeism, direct health costs and reduced quality of life for WMSD sufferers.
Australia’s most common workplace injury, WMSDs account for the majority (57%) of workers’ compensation claims for serious injuries that can have a devastating impact on the quality of life of sufferers and their families.
Workers most at risk include community and personal service workers such as healthcare, aged care, childcare, NDIS and disability service workers. Tradies, labourers, technicians, drivers, and machinery operators are also among those with the highest rates of physical work-related injuries, while desk or computer users make up 10% of serious workers’ compensation claims.
The sorts of activities that lead to painful WMSDs include body stressing caused by poorly executed lifting, pushing, pulling or bending and using computers in non-ergonomic workspaces in an office or at home. Poor posture, driving a vehicle for lengthy periods and repetitive strain injuries can all cause WMSDs that includes chronic neck and back pain, shoulder stiffness and headaches.
Mental stress in the workplace can also impact workers physically and if left unchecked, can trigger neuro-musculoskeletal disorders including tension and cervicogenic (neck related) headaches that effect workers’ concentration, productivity, social engagement and their overall wellbeing and quality of life.
With WMSDs leading to poorer quality of life, psychological distress, bodily pain and disability, through WorkSpace Week ACA is encouraging people to be proactive in undertaking preventative measures in their workspace because prevention is the best protection.
By promoting prevention and minimising long-term harm that may result from WMSDs, with early diagnosis ACA chiropractors can help improve the spinal health and overall wellbeing of workers while reducing the negative impact on employers and the economy.
ACA chiropractors are Australia’s leaders in providing holistic, evidence-based, patient centred, multi-modal and clinically proven healthcare. They offer non-surgical, low risk, drug-free therapeutic care and can provide advice on helping to prevent work-related back and neck injuries, how to set up an ergonomic workspace, how to effectively improve posture, provide exercises to improve spinal health and stabilise core muscle groups, and guidance on rest and maintaining a healthy diet to promote overall health and wellbeing.
To minimise workspace injuries and reduce the impact of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, employers and workers are encouraged to visit workspaceweek.org.au to register their participation and access a wide range of free WMSD preventative resources. The WorkSpace Week ergonomic checklist, exercise posters, podcasts, factsheets and the Straighten Up App can help maximise spinal health and wellbeing, minimise injuries and improve productivity for all working Australians so they can work well everywhere. And for those who suffer WMSDs, visit findachiro.org.au to locate an ACA chiropractor near you.
For information and to register for national WorkSpace Week, visit workspaceweek.org.au.
