Every year in the NSW agricultural industry more than 460 people are seriously injured or suffer from illness related to manual handling. This represents about 30 per cent of all injuries from this industry.
This costs the NSW agricultural industry about $13 million a year in direct costs.
Generally manual handling in the agricultural industry affects the back, shoulder, abdomen and pelvic region. The most common injuries include sprains and strains, damage to muscles and tendons and hernia problems.
Black spots
Manual handling injuries in the agricultural industry are often caused when lifting or carrying produce, feed, fertiliser or equipment and when working with livestock and timber.
Occupations that are black spots for manual handling injuries include:
- farmers
- skilled farm workers
- labourers
- process workers.
Sectors within the agricultural industry that are prone to manual handling injuries include:
- cattle, sheep and poultry farming
- fruit and vegetable production
- sawmilling
- shearing
- plant nurseries.
WorkCover has a number of resources to help you address manual handling problems in the manufacturing industry.
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