We’ve all heard the line “a good workman never blames his tools”. It’s a saying about being accountable, but taken literally, it reminds us that actually, it’s the tradie that is the most important tool. With this in mind, you’d think that our tradies would prioritise their own health over their tools. Well, think again. For the second year in a row, a survey has shown that tradies are more likely to take better care of their tools than they do their physical or mental health. The Australian Physiotherapy Association’s (APA) Tradies health national survey of more than 800 tradies found that 88 per cent of respondents took good care of their tools, but only 60 per cent looked after their physical and mental health. The survey contained other worrying revelations, including that 42 per cent of tradies push their body beyond its limits.  At a time when the APA and other health groups are warning of the dangers of neglecting your physical and mental health, the survey results are alarming. But it’s not all bad news. The survey also revealed that the typical tradie’s diet doesn’t match the pie-eating stereotype of before, with 70 per cent of tradies saying they are trying to be more health conscious when

 it comes to what they eat. In terms of exercise, 56 per cent of tradies say they exercise regularly outside of work while only 20 per cent said they never exercise. Although it isn’t all bad news, on the whole, the survey makes for a sobering read. It seems we still have a long way to go before we get to the point where tradies prioritise their own health and wellbeing above their tools.

88%                                                                                                                                                                   

Reported taking good care of their tools while just over 60 per cent said they take good care of their bodies and mental health.

ONLY ONE QUARTER 

Of tradies felt comfortable talking to co-workers about a mental health issue that was affecting their work

JUST OVER HALF 53%                                                           

Were open to discussing physical health concerns

69%                                                                                                                                                                    

Believe that it’s normal to be sore as a result of the work they do

42% 

Push their bodies past its healthy limits