BROKEN bones and bruised muscles have slugged Brimbank businesses almost $27 million over the past financial year.

Statistics released by WorkSafe Victoria reveal workplaces in the municipality forked out $26,954,556 to workers suffering bone and muscle injuries between July 2009 and June 2010.

The money covered medical bills, wages and other expenses for musculoskeletal injuries, where the person was absent from work for 10 days or more and had a claim of more than $580.

Bone and muscle injuries accounted for more than half the workplace injury claims made in Brimbank, which had the 13th highest number of claims in the state.

Other common complaints included stress, fractures, crushing, deafness and open wounds.

Worksafe strategic director Trevor Martin said many businesses were hit hard by injuries that would cost little or nothing to prevent.

“Injuries to the muscles, tissues, nerves and bone account for more than half of all workplace injuries in Victoria, but they are often overshadowed because there’s no blood on the floor,” Mr Martin said.

“Lifting a box, climbing a stepladder or navigating a slippery surface at work might not set off alarm bells for most of us, but tasks like these cause 17,000 Victorian workers painful muscle and bone injuries every year.

“They’re the most preventable, because in many cases, simply cleaning up a spill on the floor or providing some lifting equipment eliminates the risk.”

Worksafe has launched a new campaign to raise awareness about musculoskeletal injuries and challenge the assumption that they’re only suffered by workers involved in heavy lifting.

Mr Martin said workers in childcare, retail and hospitality routinely suffered debilitating muscle and bone injuries.

For more information about preventing musculoskeletal injuries check out the website www.worksafe.gov.au/backonsafety.