The workforce
This industry grouping covers a wide range of activities, separated into eight groups:
- Hospitals
- Medical services
- Pathology and diagnostic imaging services
- Allied health services
- Other health care services
- Other social assistance services
- Child Care services
- Residential care services
16% of the total Tasmanian workforce, the largest employing industry of the state
51% work full time
19% increase of hours-worked in the last three years
The injuries
1,520 injuries across the industry group in 2019
46% of injuries over the last ten years resulted in at least one week off work
1 in 5 workers injured in Tasmania in 2019 worked in Health Care and Social Assistance
13.5 serious injuries per million hours worked — highest of all industries — 48% higher than the state average of 9.1
4% lower serious injury frequency rate in 2019 than ten years ago
The people
Personal carers and assistants accounted for 1 in 3 injured workers
Occupation groups with the highest percentage of serious injuries
- 34% Personal carers and assistants
- 15% Health and welfare support workers
- 12% Midwifery and nursing professionals
55-64 year olds reported the highest serious injury frequency rate
49% of serious injuries occur in Residential care services
The causes
The most common causes of injury across the industry
- Body stressing
- Falls, slips and trips
- Being hit by moving objects
- Mental stress
Action areas
Priority conditions and causes identified in the WorkSafe Strategic Plan 2018-2023 relevant to the industry:
- Musculoskeletal disorders
- Hazardous manual tasks
- Slips, trips and falls
- Mental health conditions