Five trades account for about 40 percent of reported constructed industry injuries. Carpenters top the list at 12 percent, followed by electricians at (8 percent), builders’ labourers (7 percent), labourers (7 percent) and plumbers (6 percent).
Carpentry
Almost 70 percent of the 1251 accepted injury claims by carpenters from the start of 2016 to September 2024 were in construction services sector while 28 percent were in building construction.
The most common mechanisms of injury to a carpenter were hitting a moving object at 21 percent, being hit by a moving object (18 percent), falls from height (11 percent), muscular stress while lifting, carrying or putting down object (10 percent), hitting a stationary object (8 percent), falls on the same level (7 percent) and being hit by a falling object (7 percent).
The most common nature of injury was laceration or open wound not involving traumatic amputation at (39 percent), soft tissue injuries due to trauma or unknown mechanism (9 percent), other fractures, not elsewhere classified (7 percent) and foreign body on external eye, ear or nose (6 percent).
The highest agency of accident was nails, screws, nut and bolts and dressed timber.
Electricians
About 95 percent of injuries associated with electricians are in construction services
The most common mechanisms of injury to an electrician are hitting moving objects at 12 percent, contact with electricity (10 percent), being hit by moving objects (10 percent), falls on the same level (10 percent), hitting stationary objects (9 percent) and falls from height (8 percent).
The most common nature of injury was laceration or open wound not involving traumatic amputation at 25 percent), electric shock (9 percent) and trauma to muscles and tendons (8 percent).
The highest agency of accidents were fixed wiring, portable electric cables and electric drills.
Builders’ labourers and labourers
Just over half of the injuries associated with builders’ labourers and labourers were in construction services while 29 percent occurred in heavy and civil engineering construction.
The most common mechanisms of injury to builders’ labourer and labourer are muscular stress while lifting, carrying, or putting down objects at 14 percent, falls on the same level (12 percent), being hit by moving objects (11 percent), muscular stress while handling objects other than lifting (10 percent), falls from height (8 percent), hitting moving objects (7 percent), being hit by falling objects (7 percent), hitting stationary objects (5 percent) and long term exposure to sound (5 percent).
The most common nature of injury was laceration or open wound not involving traumatic amputation at 17 percent, soft tissue injuries due to trauma or unknown mechanism (14 percent), trauma to muscles and tendons (10 percent), other fractures not elsewhere classified (9 percent), contusion, bruising and superficial crushing (7 percent), trauma to joints and ligaments (5 percent) and long-term exposure to sound (5 percent).
Among the most common agency of accidents were ferrous and non-ferrous metal, outdoor environment agencies, concrete and cement products and uneven ground surfaces, grass or otherwise.
Plumbers
Almost 95 percent of injuries associated with plumbers are in construction services.
The most common mechanisms of injury to plumbers are muscular stress while lifting, carrying, or putting down objects at 11 percent, being hit by moving objects (11 percent), hitting a moving object (11 percent) and hitting a stationary object (10 percent).
The most common nature of injury was laceration or open wound not involving traumatic amputation at 24 percent, trauma to muscle and tendon, unspecified (11 percent) and soft tissue injuries due to trauma or unknown mechanism (8 percent).
Among the most common agency of injuries were water mains, pipes, valves, hydrants, taps and other water (32); pipes and tube steel (31); construction trade knives (30) and electric drills (26).
Campaign focus
Focusing on carpenters and electricians, SafeWork SA will conduct audits tailored to each occupation’s injury mechanisms.
This initiative will also support the youth strategy by auditing apprentice training and supervision.
Collaboration with the Skills Commission will enhance data sharing and follow-up actions.
To support this initiative, SafeWork SA’s education team will create a working group to develop guidance material on managing risk of falls during first fix carpentry while the work environment team will analyse the RTWSA occupation injury data to create occupation snapshots.
Expected Outcomes:
- reduced injuries in high-risk occupations
- improved training and supervision for apprentices
- enhanced data sharing and coordinated safety interventions.
