APA urges Australian tradies to make their health a priority this Tradies National Health Month

APA urges Australian tradies to make their health a priority this Tradies National Health Month

Quick answer: Throughout August 2025, Tradies National Health Month calls on Australian tradies to be proactive — book a check-up, seek early treatment, act on qualified advice, and review lifting technique before small strains cut a career short.

August marks Tradies National Health Month 2025, and the Australian Physiotherapy Association is encouraging Australia's tradies to pursue the necessary care to avert injuries and manage chronic pain.

Studies reveal that numerous tradespeople in Australia are suffering from chronic pain, which detrimentally influences their quality of life, work efficiency, and the duration of their careers, possibly aggravating the shortages of housing and skilled tradespeople in the country.

Jarryd Croxford, a physiotherapist specialising in occupational health for tradespeople, stated that the effects of chronic pain and injury on Australia's tradesmen are frequently undervalued, and if left unaddressed, may lead to wider economic and social repercussions for Australia.

‘Every day at job sites across Australia, tradies struggle to deal with chronic pain and new or recurring injuries. They’re worried about their ability to perform on the job, their longevity in the workforce, and, most importantly, what these injuries and pain might mean for their personal well-being,’ said Mr Croxford. 

Continue reading here.

Safer lifting habits lower the risk on site

Manual handling ranks among the biggest risk factors across Australia's building, maintenance and manufacturing trades. Simple controls — planning each task, using mechanical aids and sharing heavy loads — cut daily strain and support long-term safety.

• Plan the task: check the weight, the route and where it lands before you commit, keeping your back straight and knees bent.
• Use aids: trolleys, hoists and load-assist gear remove much of the risk from repetitive handling.
• Share the load: two-person lifting beats a hero effort every time.
• Warm up: five minutes of movement primes muscles for a long shift.
• Rotate duties: varying tasks limits repetitive strain and strengthens crew safety culture.

For more practical guidance on staying strong through decades on the tools, read our companion article on tips for a longer, stronger trade career.

Early advice beats late repairs

Getting professional advice early keeps minor problems minor. A qualified assessment can identify movement patterns that raise personal risk, then set a rehabilitation plan matched to the lifting demands of real site work.

Truckies are hearing much the same message — see how the NHVR asks drivers to treat wellbeing as a top priority.

Safety systems that support a longer working life

Employers carry duties under work health and safety legislation to eliminate or minimise hazards arising from manual tasks. Safe Work Australia guidance on hazardous manual tasks explains how to evaluate loads, postures, forces and repetition, while state regulators publish codes of practice for construction and factory crews.

Documented procedures turn good intentions into routine. SWMS, toolbox talks and clear work instructions give teams repeatable steps for heavy loads, awkward postures and constant movement — proof to regulators that safety sits at the centre of daily operations. Browse our National Safe Work Month template offers to build that paperwork quickly.

This August campaign is a timely prompt to review your safety documentation, refresh site inductions, and check that emergency gear — including first aid kits for electrical tradies — suits the hazards each crew faces. Full offer details appear in the 2025 promotion terms and conditions.