In a study conducted by Safe Work Australia (2015-16), Serious claims for WMSD (Work related musculoskeletal disorders) diseases and injuries comprised 58 per cent of all serious claims. The median time lost from WMSD injuries has increased from 5.0 to 5.2 since 2011–12. While a short term campaign or safety blitz can raise awareness of injury risk, the best way to reduce workplace injury rates in the long term is to get the flywheel turning by empowering your workers in the health & safety space. The link is a simple one; stronger, happier workers are injured less.

One of the biggest contributors to lost productivity within the workplace is a poor health & safety culture. If there is a loss of empowerment with the safety of tasks, or whether your workforce simply doesn’t have the energy & recovery to meet their physical demands, productivity numbers often take a down-turn and continue to compound the poorer the cultural attitudes become.

Absenteeism is one of the biggest killers of business culture and bottom line. A survey published by the Australian Industry Group (AIG, 2015) estimated that the direct costs of absenteeism equates to $578 per employee per day of absence. Conversely, studies have shown that for every $1 invested in workplace health, there is a $2.05 return on investment for absenteeism costs.

If you had the option to improve your safety statistics immediately, or improve the physical and mental health culture of your business, which would you choose? Ultimately, the best way to create an enduring health & safety culture isn’t always a change in lag indicators, but in the physical and mental health of your workers. Physically & mentally healthy workers report greater overall happiness levels, and studies have shown that happy workers are also 13% more productive!