What we learned from Tradies National Health Month
This year we celebrated a milestone for tradies’ health. August 2022 marked the 10th Tradies National Health Month, an initiative that shines a light on the importance of physical and mental health in trades.
It’s an opportunity to take stock of the health risks tradespeople encounter on the job. Not only injuries and accidents, but also long-term strain, mental health concerns, and chronic injuries.
Tradies National Health Month is championed by the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA), an organisation we’re proud to partner with.
Why Tradies National Health Month matters
Tradies deal with a lot in a day. Hard work and long hours take a toll, resulting in 60% of tradies reporting aches and strains as a result of their job.
Construction, Mining, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and Transport and Logistics account for the lion’s share of serious injury claims in Australia(1) and New Zealand(2). And while we all know these roles are risky, it’s often hidden health risks and unspoken stigmas that cause the most harm.
Initiatives like Tradies National Health Month are crucial for combating these risks. As an industry leader outfitting the nation’s tradies, Steel Blue is committed to taking steps that improve tradies’ mental health and physical wellbeing.
We want everyone to work safely and stay healthy so they can enjoy a great quality of life.
Making tradies’ health a priority every month
This year the APA’s key message for Tradies National Health Month was:
Share the load. Add a physio to your toolkit.
It’s a timely reminder for tradies to listen to their body.
Whether it’s a tight hamstring that needs to be stretched or a dull ache in the lower back that won’t go away, don’t ignore the warning signs. Minor twinges can become major problems.
The APA launched a website full of free resources for tradespeople, managers, and business leaders. We encourage you to bookmark the site so you can read up on injury risks and visit Find a Physio on the Physiotherapy New Zealand website – www.pnz.org.nz/ if needing to access physio treatment.
For us at Steel Blue, “share the load” resonates far beyond Tradies National Health Month. It’s a great message that means many things:
- Share the load of heavy work
- Talk to a mental health professional about stress
- Asking for support isn’t a sign of weakness
- Look after your whole-body health
- Balance work and life so you can excel at both
- Use your team’s strengths to get the best results
It also reiterates the value of our partnerships with organisations like the APA and Beyond Blue in supporting tradies’ mental and physical health.
Sharing the load keeps you physically and mentally healthy. It prevents acute injuries and long-term strains. It supports worthy causes, raises awareness of silent health risks, and fights stigma among tradespeople. It safeguards tradies’ mental health.
That’s why Steel Blue champions health initiatives, donates proceeds from our pink boots, and partners with organisations like the APA to design work boots for whole-body health.
By sharing the load, we can continue taking steps to safeguard tradie health and achieve excellence every day.
You can revisit our recent webinar on tradies’ mental health or find more wellbeing tips on the Steel Blue blog.
