These statistics have been revealed by organisational health group Konekt.
The Konekt report analysed 113,000 cases of workers compensation and non-compensable cases over a six-year period. Musculoskeletal injuries represented the largest workplace injury category, and back injuries accounted for almost one third.
Australia's electricity/gas/water/waste services sector has a high incidence of back injuries, but the return to work rates are among the highest, Konekt's report revealed.
Konekt found that:
- Musculoskeletal injuries are the most prevalent type of injury in this sector, with back injuries accounting for 17 per cent. This compares with just 7% for psychological injuries;
- The average cost for an injured worker in this sector is $2328 - one of the highest;
- The sector has the lowest average delay of referral time (for treatment) - 29 weeks;
- It has a service (treatment) duration of around 19 weeks, again one of the lowest; and
- A 92% return-to-work probability - the second highest of all the industries covered in the Konekt Market Report.
While Australia's mining sector overall incurs the highest treatment cost per worker, with the longest average treatment duration, the return-to-work rate is higher than the Australian average, according to Konekt.
Konekt found that the average cost for an injured worker in the mining sector was $3659 - the highest of all industries in the report; while the average delay to referral (for treatment) was 33 weeks.
The mining sector also has the longest average service duration of 25 weeks, with about 16% of workplace injuries in the mining sector back-related.
The mining sector overall has an 88% return-to-work rate, compared to the Australian average of 87%.
