The physical risks associated with manufacturing roles are long-established, with a 2023 report from Safe Work Australia placing manufacturing in the top five industries in Australia for fatalities (with machine operators at particular risk). All-in-all, manufacturing was responsible for 10% of all serious injury claims recorded by Safe Work.
As an occupation requiring a significant amount of physical labour and heavy machinery use, it’s no surprise manufacturing employees are more susceptible to accidents compared to much of the working population.
Less well understood however, is the complex interaction of mental and emotional health and the impact of nutrition, stress and physical activity. According to recent research, people who work in manufacturing are disproportionately affected by suicidality, substance abuse, and other serious mental health issues. As a career involving irregular shifts, repetitive tasks, and potentially dangerous tools, manufacturing can take a toll on people’s wellbeing. In fact, one study concluded that around 40% of long-term absences in the manufacturing sector are related to mental health.
So, what can be done? The good news is that businesses in the manufacturing sector have various tools at their disposal to support employee wellbeing and reduce the number of days lost to injury and poor mental health. As well as introducing physiotherapy and rehabilitation solutions as part of employee wellness programs, companies can support workers with tailored wellbeing solutions and return to work plan templates. We’ve put together a list of helpful tips for manufacturing firms looking to optimise these strategies and maintain a healthy, happy workforce.
1: Focus on preventative measures
Preventing “injuries” is vital for manufacturing firms looking to comply with workplace safety legislation, such as the Work Health and Safety Act. This act requires manufacturing firms to identify hazards and implement appropriate measures to minimise risk to health and safety. These baselines practices are then augmented by the requirement to provide adequate instructions to employees required to operate machinery. The right type of clothing then needs to be considered with the goal being to ensure workers have access to protective equipment, such as goggles, earplugs, or hard hats. These preventative measures form the basis of most OH&S procedures across the country. What is commendable is the fact that most companies across Australia are fairly good at achieving what is considered this ‘baseline’ standard. Although we must always strive for improvement it is undeniable that we’ve come a long way in the past two decades.
However, there is a critical shift in relation to injury prevention. This shift is based on the growing knowledge that the individual employee’s health profile is in most instances, a critical factor in workplace incidents.
This knowledge is seeing injury prevention practices shifting away from the physical risks in the workplace such as lifting heavy items, repeated above shoulder carries etc to more complex and nuanced risks in the workplace. The risk profile now firmly sits with the employees themselves, how are they looking after themselves is one of the biggest risks in today’s workplace. This covers injuries ranging from mild strains right through to severe trauma to an employee’s musculoskeletal system.
Finally, paying attention to workplace ergonomics and ergonomic tools can optimise your injury prevention program. For example, tools designed to minimise force and prevent awkward postures could significantly reduce chronic stress on the body. If you’re unsure what kinds of ergonomic tools employees need, it’s worth investing in an ergonomic audit by external occupational health consultants.
2. Integrate physiotherapy and rehabilitation into your wellness programs
You can normalise injury prevention and treatment within the workplace by integrating physiotherapy and rehabilitation solutions as part of employee wellness programs.
Health Stack performs thousands of consults each year with our onsite and online Physiotherapists. We see many clients with body stressing injuries from doing repetitive tasks that are part of their normal everyday work. This is on the rise with recent data from Safe Work Australia showing that body stressing injuries were the leading cause of serious workers’ compensation claims (32.7%), followed by falls, slips and trips of a person; being hit by moving objects, and mental stress.
(please review the increasing body stress injuries in the workplace data)
While employees may have traditionally felt the need to grin and bear their pain, an effective and customised employee wellbeing program will help to build a compassionate culture that ensures everyone operates at their healthiest. Offering such services can also build confidence in your business as an employer, boost productivity, and reduce costs associated with workers’ compensation claims.
3. Create careful return to work plans
Writing a clear and medically informed return to work plan template is essential for helping injured or sick employees reintegrate into the workplace, mitigating the risk of relapse. Before you write a template, consider the following factors:
- How you will modify duties and reintroduce workers to their duties.
- How you will obtain and certificate medical clearance.
- Communication protocols between HR staff and healthcare professionals.
- How you will review milestones and track recovery.
Naturally, you can tailor plans to suit employees, but having a template in place will ensure everyone is treated fairly upon their return.
4. Look beyond physical health
An effective employee wellbeing program looks beyond injury prevention to consider wider mental and physical health. You could consider implementing mental health support and stress management programs to help those struggling with issues like depression and anxiety. Similarly, it’s worth training leaders and managers in holistic wellbeing to nurture a culture of safety and care. By weaving compassion into your company values, you can boost the chances of employees speaking up and seeking help when they’re struggling.
5. Go beyond compliance
If you’re keen to support workers and maintain high employee retention rates, you need to look beyond safety checklists and mandatory regulations. The number of potential extra measures available can seem endless, so it’s up to you to assess the specific needs of your workforce. Additional offerings could include:
- Smoking cessation support
- Yoga and Pilates lessons
- Sleep and fatigue support
- Annual physical assessments
- Personal wellness coaching
- Extra support for new starters
- Mindfulness programs
Let Health Stack help you in developing the right kind of employee wellness program
Health and safety should be one of the top priorities for HR professionals and managers working in the manufacturing sector, as it’s integral to business success. If you’re wondering how to curate the best wellness and return to work programs for your employees, Health Stack is here to help.
We offer on-demand health and wellness programs perfect for high-pressure workplaces. Boasting a 65-100% reduction in compensation claims and a 93-97% return to work rate for clients who use our services, Health Stack is perfect for businesses looking to reduce organisational costs and downtime, while doing well by their employees. Find out more by getting in touch with our friendly team.
