If you haven’t already heard, August is Tradies National Health Month (TNHM), an initiative established by the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) in 2012. APA is calling on all tradies, their employers and families to get behind Tradies National Health Month this August and spread the message from the top of our buildings to the bottom of our drainpipes – “it’s time to prioritise tradie health and wellbeing!” As Australia tackles ongoing trade shortages and expanding infrastructure demands in 2026, prioritising the health and safety of our tradie workforce has never been more urgent. When our tradies are supported and thriving, our entire community prospers. Ultimately, workplace injuries and chronic health conditions don’t end when the shift is over, they have a flow on effect into all aspects of everyday life, impacting physical wellbeing, mental health, and family dynamics well beyond the site. Health Challenges Impacting Tradies Each year APA conducts an annual survey of tradies from across the country to find out what is impacting their health and wellbeing, challenges they are facing, and changes that are occurring over the years (good and bad). The 2026 survey revealed: Everyday Pain is Unfortunately the Norm: 68% of tradies say they most commonly experience ongoing pain or discomfort in their back, neck, or shoulders. A Career Longevity Crisis: More than half of tradies question their ability to reach retirement age in their trade due to physical strain. This worry isn’t limited to older workers; it affects nearly 40% of Gen Z and more than a third of Millennials. This not only impacts the current workforce but may influence the volume of people taking up tradies in the future. Lack of Preventive Care: Despite widespread discomfort, only 10% of tradies regularly consult a physiotherapist to manage or prevent work-related pain before it leads to serious injury. Top Tips for Tradies from Workforce Health Assessors (WHA): Do it the right way, not the fast way – manual handling based injuries account for one third of all injuries within the construction industry. By doing things the right way every time you actually save time for long term absenteeism and recovery. Never hurts to review manual handling guidelines from time to time to check in on your technic. Health Monitoring is crucial – early detection can reduce the risk of an injury or illness impacting your ability to work. With most trades regularly exposed to hazardous materials and substances, Australian workplace health and safety legislation requires employers to conduct standardised health monitoring for workers who face significant risk from chemical or dust exposure. Common substances include: Crystalline Silica Asbestos Lead Chromium Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Isocyanates Benzene Mercury Cadmium Organophosphates Injury Management – the sooner you get any injury treated the better the outcome and the faster the recovery. Often small nagging twinges can lead to more severe injury if left untreated, meaning more down time off the job. Mental Health – our mental health and wellbeing is just as important as our physical health. Finding your support network can be invaluable when you need someone to lean on. Family, friends, colleagues, EAP services, and mental health professionals when experience mental health challenges from burnout to severe depression and everything in between. Encourage others to do the same – leading by example should be celebrated, supporting your employees, colleagues, family and friends is always a good thing. Drop the “she’ll be right” attitude – good physical and mental health matters, while stoic toughen up workplace cultures are outdated. So, this Tradie National Health Month, be the Positive Change. Every single person can make an impact on their workplace for the better. Bring up some ideas with your manager. Find out what your employer may already have in place. Implement stretching session into site toolbox meetings. Ask a colleague if they are doing ok. Speak to your family GP. It all counts. If you are a decision maker for your workplace occupational health and safety, review your current programs and find out how you may be able to do more. WHA, Your Occupational Health Partner Whether you’re onboarding new employees, implementing annual health checks, require legislated health monitoring / surveillance or arranging drug and alcohol screening, WHA is here to help as your trusted occupational health partner. Get in Touch! Our experienced team can assist with a full range of occupational health services tailored to your workforce, down to each individual role. The best part is, because WHA can manage all your occupational health needs, all your workforce records are stored securely in one easy to use platform. Book a free CoreAssess demo with your local sales representative today! Call 1300 552 722 or reach out online today to discover how WHA can support your business’s workforce health management needs. From Recruitment and Occupational Health and Safety, to overall Health and Wellbeing, WHA has a tailored solution for you. Stay up to date with the latest news on WHA services, locations, achievements as well as industry updates, resources, and more by following us on LinkedIn.