Tradies National Health Month: tips for a longer, stronger career

Tradies National Health Month is held every August. The Australian Physiotherapy Association runs it to draw attention to the injuries and health problems that tradespeople face. For most tradies, a longer career comes down to a few habits: moving loads safely, protecting your hearing and lungs, looking after your sleep and food, and talking about stress before it becomes a problem.

This guide covers the health risks that come with trade work, practical steps you can take yourself, and what employers should put in place so that good health is part of the job, not something left to the individual.

The health risks in trade work

Trade work is physical, and the injuries are often slow to build up. The common ones include:

• Back, neck and shoulder pain from lifting, bending, carrying and overhead work
• Sprains, strains and tears from awkward movements or sudden loads
• Hearing loss from power tools, grinders and machinery
• Lung disease from dust, particularly silica from cutting concrete, bricks and stone
• Cuts, burns and electric shock from tools and live equipment
• Falls from ladders, scaffolds and roofs

Mental health is part of the picture too. Long hours, financial pressure, injury and a culture that treats struggling as weakness can all build stress over time. Many tradies are reluctant to say so, which is why it's easy to miss.

Protect your body

Lift and move loads safely

Most back and shoulder injuries come from one bad lift, or from many small ones. Before you lift:

• Plan the route and check the weight. Use a trolley, hoist or second person for anything heavy.
• Keep the load close to your body, bend at the knees, and avoid twisting while carrying.
• Break up repetitive work with short breaks, and change position often.

If you're unsure about the right technique for a task, ask for training before you start. Our guide to manual handling techniques covers the basics.

Protect your hearing and lungs

Hearing loss builds up quietly over years, and by the time you notice it, the damage is done. Wear ear protection when using power tools, grinders or machinery, and check that it fits. If you have to shout to be heard by someone an arm's length away, the noise is probably too loud.

For dust, wet cutting, local extraction and a properly fitted P2 respirator reduce what you breathe in. Engineered stone has been banned in Australia since 1 July 2024, but many of the same risks apply to other stone and concrete work. Silica dust can cause silicosis, which is serious and permanent.

Eat, drink and sleep properly

Tradies often skip meals on a busy day, then rely on energy drinks, sugary snacks and a lot of coffee. That leads to energy crashes, poor concentration and more mistakes. Simple changes help:

• Eat a proper meal before you start, and pack food that isn't heavily processed
• Drink water through the day, not just at smoko
• Limit caffeine, especially in the afternoon, and avoid alcohol before bed
• Go to bed at a regular time, so you get the sleep your body needs to recover

Fatigue is also a safety issue. Tired workers make more mistakes around plant, ladders and power tools.

Stay mobile

Stretching and light exercise help keep joints and muscles working. A warm-up before a physical task, such as a few minutes of arm circles and leg swings, reduces strain. As you get older, pace your workload and give yourself more recovery time.

If you have ongoing pain, don't wait for it to pass. See a GP or a physiotherapist early, and ask for a referral to a physio who understands trade work.

Look after your mind

Notice the signs

Stress often shows up as irritability, lost interest in things you usually enjoy, trouble sleeping, drinking more than you intended, or pulling away from mates and family. Notice these in yourself and in your crew.

Talk to someone

Talking early helps. Tell a mate, a partner, your supervisor or a doctor. If you're in crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or call 000 in an emergency. Seeing a GP is a practical first step, and they can refer you to a psychologist if needed.

Build some balance

Set limits on work hours where you can, take proper time off, and keep at least one interest outside work. Small routines, such as a walk after work or a regular catch-up, make a difference over time.

What employers can put in place

Health is a safety issue, and your business can help. Some practical steps:

1. Plan physical tasks. Use the manual handling management plan to identify high-risk lifts and the equipment that reduces them.
2. Control heat and sun. In hot weather, use the hot conditions safety policy to set rest breaks, water and shade.
3. Provide hearing and respiratory protection and make sure workers know how to fit and use it.
4. Train your crew. Make sure people know the safe way to do a task, and check that they're doing it.
5. Make it safe to speak up. Let workers report pain, near misses and hazards without fear of being blamed. Consider a psychosocial hazards management plan to address stress at work.
6. Keep a record. Track injuries, reports and treatment so you can spot patterns and act on them.

Vaccinations are also worth checking. Make sure your crew's tetanus vaccinations are current, and ask about hepatitis B if your work involves contact with blood or bodily fluids, such as in some maintenance or emergency roles.

For more on the mental side, read our guide to mental health at work. If summer work is your main concern, heat stress management covers rest breaks, hydration and when to stop work.

Common questions

What is Tradies National Health Month? It's a campaign run each August by the Australian Physiotherapy Association. It focuses on physical and mental health for tradespeople, and it encourages early help and better habits.

Does my employer have to help with my health? Under the WHS laws, your employer must keep you safe at work so far as is reasonably practicable. That includes managing physical hazards such as manual handling, noise and dust. Mental health is covered by the same duty where work causes or contributes to it.

Should I see a physio or a GP first? A GP can assess the problem and refer you to a physiotherapist, psychologist or specialist. For work-related injuries, tell your employer as well, so the claim and any changes to your duties are handled properly.

Is it worth doing a warm-up for a short job? Yes. A short warm-up takes a few minutes and can prevent strains, especially at the start of a day or after time off.

This is general information, not legal advice. Check the current law with your WHS regulator.