Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in Australia

'000

Per cent

'000

Per cent

'000

Per cent

How most recent work-related injury or illness occurred

Lifting, pushing, pulling or bending

83.3

27.1

52.6

20.5

135.9

24.1

Hitting or being hit or cut by an object or vehicle

69.6

22.7

32.8

12.8

102.4

18.2

Fall on same level (including slip or fall)

35.0

11.4

51.9

20.2

87.0

15.4

Repetitive movement with low muscle loading

27.3*

8.9*

23.0

9.0

50.3

8.9

Exposure to mental stress

11.1*

3.6

23.2

9.0

34.3

6.1

Fall from a height

14.7*

4.8*

12.1*

4.7*

26.8

4.7

Vehicle accident

16.4

5.4

7.3*

2.9*

23.8

4.2

Contact with a chemical or substance

9.6*

3.1*

10.4*

4.0*

20.0*

3.5*

Prolonged standing, working in cramped or unchanging positions

8.4*

2.7*

6.8*

2.6*

15.2*

2.7*

Other

29.3

9.6

36.6

14.3

66.0

11.7

Most recent work-related injury or illness sustained

Sprain/strain

84.3

27.5

76.0

29.6

160.3

28.4

Chronic joint or muscle condition

57.4

18.7

45.8

17.9

103.2

18.3

Cut/open wound

61.7

20.1

27.0*

10.5*

88.8

15.8

Fracture

29.0

9.5

18.8

7.3

47.8

8.5

Crushing injury/internal organ damage

21.9*

7.2*

21.2

8.3

43.2

7.7

Stress or other mental condition

10.4*

3.4

22.8

8.9

33.2

5.9

Burns

9.9*

3.2*

16.2*

6.3*

26.1*

4.6*

Superficial injury

5.6*

1.8*

4.6*

1.8*

10.2*

1.8*

Other

26.6

8.7

24.3

9.4

50.9

9.0

Location where most recent work-related injury or illness occurred

Work place

278.7

90.8

240.9

93.8

519.6

92.2

Travelling on business

11.3*

3.7*

5.8*

2.3*

17.1*

3.0*

Lunchtime or break activities

3.9*

1.3*

8.3*

3.2*

12.2*

2.2*

Travelling to or from work

6.1*

2.0*

0.8*

0.3*

6.9*

1.2*

Days or shifts absent from work in the last 12 months due to most recent work-related injury or illness

None

106.1

34.6

115.4

44.9

221.5

39.3

Part of a day/shift

15.5*

5.1*

20.8

8.1

36.3

6.4

1–4 days

91.4

29.8

51.8

20.2

143.2

25.4

5–10 days

27.4

8.9

25.9

10.1

53.3

9.5

11 days or more

52.3

17.1

34.6

13.5

86.9

15.4

Has not returned to work since illness or injury occurred

13.1*

4.3*

7.2*

2.8*

20.3*

3.6

All sources of financial assistance for medical expenses or income loss for most recent work-related injury or illness

Received financial assistance

158.4

51.6

140.3

54.6

298.7

53.0

Workers' compensation

91.5

29.8

62.8

24.5

154.3

27.4

Employer - regular sick leave

46.7

15.2

51.9

20.2

98.6

17.5

Employer - other payment

15.9

5.2

19.8

7.7

35.7

6.3

Medicare/Social Security/Centrelink

17.9*

5.8*

17.1*

6.7*

35.0

6.2

Private health/income protection insurance

14.5

4.7

4.3*

1.7*

18.8

3.3

Other

7.7*

2.5*

7.6*

3.0*

15.3*

2.7*

Did not know

3.3*

1.1*

4.0*

1.6*

7.3*

1.3*

Did not receive any financial assistance

148.4

48.4

116.5

45.4

264.9

47.0

Reported most recent work-related injury or illness to someone in the workplace

Did report most recent work-related injury or illness to someone in the workplace

257.4

83.9

235.7

91.8

493.1

87.5

Supervisor/line manager

185.0

60.3

187.4

73.0

372.4

66.1

Colleague

64.3

21.0

57.4

22.3

121.7

21.6

Health and safety representative

47.7

15.6

29.0

11.3

76.8

13.6

Employer

46.6

15.2

29.5

11.5

76.1

13.5

Work health and safety coordinator

26.8

8.7

25.7

10.0

52.5

9.3

Human resources

20.1

6.6

20.6

8.0

40.7

7.2

First aid officer

22.9

7.5

11.4*

4.4*

34.3

6.1

Other

17.8*

5.8*

15.2

5.9

33.0

5.9

Did not report most recent work-related injury or illness to someone in the workplace

49.4

16.1

21.0

8.2

70.5

12.5

Total

306.8

100

256.8

100

563.6

100