Findings of report on women's work-related injuries

15/7/93

A special report on work-related injuries among women identifies the health industry as the priority area for prevention programs.

Labour Relations Minister Graham Kierath said today the report was unique in that it was the first large-scale report in Australia to focus specifically on injuries to women in the workplace.

"The report was prepared in response to concern that the rate of occupational injury to women has not fallen over the past decade, while the rate for men has fallen substantially," Mr Kierath said.

"It highlights the need for prevention programs to be targeted specifically to the needs of women."

Some of the major points highlighted in the report include:

·         in 1990-91, 6,755 lost time injuries (LTIs) occurred to women;

·         the rate of injury to women is less than half that to men but has a slightly upward trend, whereas the rate for men continues to fall;

·         the severity of injuries to women was markedly higher than to men, with an average of 21.6 working days lost per injury for women, compared with 15.1 working days for men;

·         more than a quarter of all LTIs to women occurred in the health industry (hospitals and nursing homes), with manual handling the main source of injuries;

·         other important industry sectors include food processing, retail trade and the hospitality industry;

·         a total of 35 per cent of all LTIs to women are related to manual handling activities;

·         there were three major types of occurrence which resulted in injuries to women at work - over-exertion (typically related to manual handling), falls and the worker striking or being struck by an object.

The report is the latest edition of the 'State of the Work Environment' series of publications, which aimed to disseminate statistical information derived from the workers' compensation system on workplace injuries and disease in Western Australia.

Mr Kierath said the latest statistics identified the occupational groups which were particularly at risk, and also the types of injuries that were most common.

"I am very concerned with the community services area, as more than 40 per cent of lost time injuries to women occur in this area," he said.

"In the health industry in particular, there is a need for prevention programs to be continued and extended.

"The statistics also back up our concerns with manual handling injuries in the workplace.  More than 60 per cent of injuries to women are sprains and strains, and it is fair to assume that most of these are the result of unsafe manual handling practices."

Mr Kierath said it was important that workplaces followed the practical advice within the Code of Practice for Manual Handling.

Free code and training courses were available from the Department of Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare (DOHSWA).

Compiled by DOHSWA and the Workers' Compensation and Rehabilitation Commission, the 'State of the Work Environment' series of publications is available by subscription by telephoning DOHSWA on (09) 327 8777.

Media contact: Brian Coulter 481 2133 or 222 9595