Plumbers are one of the highest injury occupation trades in the construction industry, with an average of 135 injury claims / year. Young workers are especially at risk. This factsheet gives an overview of common injury mechanisms and outlines practical controls to reduce risk and promote safer work practices.
Mechanism of injuries
Age Snapshot
- Young workers are at higher risk:
- 25% of injuries occurred in plumbers 21-year-old or under
- 50% were under 26 years old.
- Apprentices made up 15% of injury cases.
Injury claims analysis
Mechanism: Body stressing (27%)
Common causes: Exerting high force when handling large, heavy items (bathtubs, sinks, stoves) in constrained spaces; repetitive, forceful movements (hammering, drilling); sustained, awkward postures (bending, kneeling, twisting, lying, overhead reaching) in tight spaces during installation and repairs.
Type of injuries: Joint/ muscle / tendon injury, MSD, laceration
Mechanism: Being hit by moving or falling object (20%)
Common causes: Loss of control using power tools (drills, grinders); mishandling objects (particularly in constrained spaces); sudden movement of unsecured materials (due to wind); lack of PPE use when operating power tools (flying debris in eyes).
Type of injuries: Lacerations, fractures, joint / muscle / tendon injury
Mechanism: Hitting Objects with Body (20%)
Common causes: Contact with sharp edges (glass, metal, unprotected sharp protrusions), misuse of cutting tools (knives, box cutters), loss of control of power tools (grinders, drills), loss of balance on ladders, lack of PPE use (hard hat, cut-resistance gloves when handling sharp items).
Type of injuries: Lacerations, fractures, muscle / tendon injuries
Mechanism: Falls, trips, slips (16%)
Common causes: Scaffold failures; working near a live edge without fall arrest system; Loss of balance while working from ladders (handling materials, using power tools); positioning ladders on unstable ground; missteps when climbing down ladders, slippery/wet ground conditions, poor housekeeping or lack of maintained walkways (tripping on cables, equipment and other material).
Type of injuries: Joint / muscle / tendon injury, fractures, laceration
Mechanism: Heat, electricity, environment (6%)
Common causes: Contact with live wires, contact with hot water, mishandling of welding tools.
Type of injuries: Electrocution, burns, heat stress
Mechanism: Sound & pressure (5%)
Common causes: Prolonged exposure to noisy tools - drills, jackhammers, power saws.
Type of injuries: Hearing damage
SafeWork SA Guidance
Find out more information on ways to control the risks by following these links: