Beyond awareness: building healthier and safer workplaces for Australia’s tradies

Tradies National Health Month is an opportunity for organisations to strengthen the knowledge, competence and systems needed to protect physical and psychological health at work.

Every August, Tradies National Health Month raises awareness of the physical and mental health challenges faced by Australia’s trade workforce. 

Research shared by the Australian Physiotherapy Association found that nine in ten surveyed tradies had experienced a work-related injury or pain in the previous year, while 76 per cent said pain significantly affected their quality of life. 

Protecting tradies is not only an individual responsibility. Employers play an essential role in creating working environments that support safer, healthier and more resilient operations.

Looking beyond visible workplace hazards 

Trade work can involve physical risks such as lifting and carrying, repetitive movements, awkward positions, equipment use and physically demanding conditions. These hazards can place stress on the body and contribute to work-related injury. 

However, not every workplace hazard is visible. High job demands, time pressure, limited support, unclear responsibilities, isolation and ineffective communication can create psychosocial risks that affect both psychological and physical health. 

A strong occupational health and safety approach should therefore consider the tasks people perform, the conditions in which they work and how work is designed, organised and managed.

From awareness to structured action 

Awareness initiatives, toolbox talks and wellbeing activities can help start important conversations. Lasting improvement, however, requires clear responsibilities, competent people and consistent processes to identify, manage and review workplace risks. 

ISO 45001 provides an internationally recognised framework for an occupational health and safety management system. It helps organisations manage risks systematically, consult workers, establish controls and continually improve performance. 

ISO 45003 complements ISO 45001 by providing guidance on managing psychosocial risks. It helps organisations consider how factors such as workload, support, communication, leadership and workplace culture may affect health and wellbeing. 

Together, the standards support a more complete approach to workplace health and safety - one that considers both body and mind.

Why healthier and safer workplaces perform better 

Work-related injuries, illness and psychosocial harm affect more than individual workers. They can result in absence, reduced performance while at work, operational disruption and the loss of experienced and skilled people. 

Research reviewed by Safe Work Australia supports the broader business case for investing in workplace health and safety. Safer and healthier workplaces can reduce the costs associated with poor health and safety outcomes while contributing to improved productivity and more sustainable business performance. Healthy workers are also more likely to be productive, take fewer sick days and return to work sooner following an injury or illness. 

Psychological health is an important part of this picture. The World Health Organization estimates that depression and anxiety result in 12 billion lost working days globally each year, costing approximately US$1 trillion in lost productivity. Australian research also indicates that organisations can improve workforce health and productivity by addressing psychosocial risks and reducing absenteeism and presenteeism. 

Effective health and safety management can therefore support: 

  • Fewer injuries, illnesses and work disruptions. 
  • Reduced absenteeism and presenteeism. 
  • Stronger employee wellbeing, morale and engagement. 
  • Greater continuity and retention of skilled workers. 
  • More consistent and sustainable operational performance. 

These benefits depend on more than policies and procedures. They require leadership commitment, worker participation and people with the knowledge and competence to apply the organisation’s health and safety processes effectively. 

Building competence and strengthening your management system 

A standard only delivers value when the people responsible for applying it understand its purpose and requirements. Training helps translate the standards into practical knowledge that teams can apply in their own working environment. 

Depending on an organisation’s needs, DNV’s health and safety training portfolio includes: 

Training builds competence, while implementation turns that competence into practice. Organisations must review current processes, identify gaps, define responsibilities, implement appropriate controls and monitor performance.  

ISO 45001 certification can provide independent assurance that an occupational health and safety management system conforms to the standard’s requirements. While ISO 45003 is a non-certifiable guideline, alignment with its guidance can be independently assessed, including alongside an ISO 45001 certification audit. 

DNV can support organisations throughout this journey, from training and gap analysis to ISO 45001 certification and ISO 45003 compliance assessment.

Make Tradies Health Month a starting point 

Tradies National Health Month is an opportunity to recognise the people behind Australia’s essential trade work and make their health and wellbeing the starting point for longer-term improvement. 

Awareness starts the conversation. Training builds the knowledge to act. A strong management system helps make safer and healthier work part of everyday operations - throughout Tradies National Health Month and beyond.

Build knowledge. Strengthen your system. Protect your people. 

Talk to our experts to learn how DNV’s services can support your journey: contact us.

3/8/2026 12:00:00 am

Training

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