Health/community services

Every year in the NSW health and community services industry more than 2500 people are seriously injured or suffer from illness related to manual handling. This represents about 47 per cent of all injuries from this industry.

This costs the NSW health and community services industry about $42 million a year in direct costs.

Generally manual handling in health and community services affects the back, shoulder, knees and wrists. The most common injuries include sprains and strains, damage to muscles and tendons and soft tissues.

Black spots
Manual handling injuries in health and community services are often caused when lifting or carrying patients and children and moving cartons and beds.

Occupations that are black spots for manual handling injuries include:
  • nurses
  • cleaners
  • carers
  • aides.
Sectors within health and community services that are prone to manual handling injuries include:
  • hospitals
  • nursing homes
  • community health centres
  • ambulance services
  • childcare services.

WorkCover has a number of resources to help you address manual handling problems in health and community services.
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