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Your Industry - Manufacturing

The manufacturing industry sector in Victoria has over 17,000 employers and over 18,000 individual workplaces registered with the Victorian WorkCover Authority for workers' compensation purposes. These workplaces make a range of products by physical or chemical transformation of materials or components using machines or by hand.  These include: chemical, petroleum and coal products; clothing and footwear; food, beverages and tobacco; leather products; equipment and machinery; metal products; mineral products; paper, paper products, printing and publishing; plastic and rubber products; textiles; transport equipment; wood, wood products and furniture.  There are an increasing number of casual workers and contractors in the manufacturing industry.

Manufacturing workplaces can be very hazardous, and workers have died, been seriously injured or contracted diseases. Hazards in the manufacturing industry include unguarded machinery, forklifts, hazardous substances, manual handling.

Unionised and organised manufacturing workplaces have a better OHS record than un-unionised sites as these sites are far more likely to have well-trained and resourced elected OHS Reps, joint OHS Committees and support from the union.

WorkSafe Victoria has an industry webpage on Manufacturing which has sub-pages on the food, meat, poultry, textile and vehicle industries.  In addition, there are separate pages on major hazard facilities, and information covering the printing industry, tanneries, and woodworking.  Go to these pages for general information, publications, information on their programs and much more.
 
The ASCC has produced a profile on manufacturing [pdf] detailing numbers of workers, claims and fatalities nationally.

 

FAQs

   

Hazard

  • Vibration
    Many types of machinery and equipment generate intense vibration - a hazard to workers.
    [read more]
     
  • Noise
    Noise: one of the most widespread workplace hazards.
    [read more]
     
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  • Sprains and strains
    Sprains and strains are the most common injuries suffered by workers across all workplaces, and in all industries. [read more]
     
  • Lead
    Inorganic lead is used in a number of industries in the form of the pure metal, alloys and compounds. It is an accumulative poison with potentially very serious health effects. [read more]
     
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  • Lasers
    Lasers were developed out of post World War 2 technology. Some types of laser equipment are now used in industry. [read more]
     
   

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