Automotive workshops on notice from WorkSafe

Painful shoulder, lower back and knee injuries suffered by tyre fitters are the focus of information and inspector visits from WorkSafe Victoria.

At the end of the year, inspectors will be visiting workshops across the state to make sure they’ve taken steps to stop workers getting injured.

“Tyre fitting is clearly very physical work. It’s not surprising that tyre fitters are more likely to suffer from a musculoskeletal injury than any other kind of injury,” WorkSafe’s Manufacturing and Logistics Director Ross Pilkington said. “Simply fitting and removing wheels can involve lifting and lowering tyres onto the vehicle, and awkward postures as you bend and twist to align it. Because each vehicle may require this to be done up to eight times, over time, injuries are going to happen.

“WorkSafe has issued new information sheets which show workplaces how aids can be used to lower the risk of injury. We’re not saying these solutions are for everyone - this is one example of what could be done and we’d expect workplaces to find solutions that fit their circumstances.”

The information sheets have been developed in conjunction with the VACC, AMWU (Vehicle Division), Bob Jane T-Marts, Bridgestone and Goodyear Dunlop Tyres. The topics are:

• Storage of new tyres;
• Fitting and removing wheels;
• Changing tyres;
• Wheel balancing; and
• Wheel dunking.

“Injuries from manual handling are a risk regardless of whether you’re a small garage or large operation,” Pilkington continued. “WorkSafe’s expectations are the same for all of these workplaces - if workers are at risk of injury, we want to see that workplaces have changed their practices or put a solution in place to try and prevent injuries from happening.”

Copies of the information sheet can be downloaded from www.worksafe.vic.gov.au.