Physiotherapy Lavington | Body Stressing Awareness Program Press Services

Enhance Physiotherapy provides proactive solutions for body stress to help prevent workplace injuries.

Lavington, Australia - September 11, 2025 / Enhance Physiotherapy Lavington /

Fostering Employee Resilience

Enhance Physiotherapy is proud to present its Body Stressing Awareness Program, a comprehensive initiative aimed at assisting with the reduction of musculoskeletal injuries in the workplace. Recognising that repetitive tasks, awkward postures, and physically demanding roles can lead to significant long-term health issues for employees, this program offers a proactive solution. It provides essential education and practical strategies for both employers and workers to identify and mitigate risks associated with hazardous manual tasks. This pioneering program, developed by accomplished occupational physiotherapist Dave Rossiter, equips individuals and businesses with the tools to foster a safer, more resilient work environment, ultimately supporting a company's most valuable asset: its people. The Body Stressing Awareness Program underscores Enhance Physiotherapy's commitment to the holistic well-being of the local community, including its core service of physiotherapy Lavington.

Addressing Body Stressing Risks At Work

In many workplaces, musculoskeletal injuries commonly caused by repetitive tasks, awkward postures, or heavy lifting, are seen as just part of the job. But these injuries, often referred to as “body stressing,” can have long-term consequences for both workers and businesses.

Whether it’s ongoing back pain, strained muscles, or joint stiffness, the impact of these injuries extends far beyond the initial discomfort. They lead to lost time, reduced productivity, and, in some cases, permanent damage.

That’s where a Body Stressing Awareness Program comes in.

Designed to educate employees and employers alike, these programs raise awareness about the risks of hazardous manual tasks and offer practical strategies for prevention. By addressing the root causes of body stress, organisations can create safer work environments, reduce injury rates, and promote long-term wellbeing.

Why a Body Stressing Awareness Program?

Employers and workplace industries have been tackling manual handling and ergonomic assessments for many years to improve their workplaces and reduce work-related incidents and injuries.
In many cases, workplaces obtain information from physiotherapists and occupational therapists on how their workers are best suited to undertake their work.
This information can be very useful, but I have seen numerous cases working within heavy/construction industries where the information was, at best, “impractical” and, at worst, downright dangerous.
In many of those cases, the valuable input from the workers themselves on how they overcame manual handling and ergonomic challenges was often overlooked.
This also bypassed the requirement under Section 35 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (2004) for employers to consult with employees regarding matters of assessing hazards and risks and making decisions about measures to be taken to control risks to health and safety.

Key Components of a Body Stress Awareness Program

Hazard identification and risk assessment

Programs typically include training on identifying potential hazards in manual tasks like lifting, carrying, and repetitive movements. This entails recognising the hazards connected with tasks, environmental conditions, and individual factors.

Control measures

The program emphasises the need to establish control mechanisms to reduce hazards. This can include using mechanical aids, altering work processes, providing appropriate personal safety equipment, and ensuring that equipment is properly maintained.

Ergonomics

Ergonomics training emphasises optimal posture, body mechanics, and workstation design to reduce strain on the body.

Individual awareness and reporting

Individuals should be aware of their physical limitations, identify early indicators of discomfort or suffering, and promptly report any difficulties to their supervisors.

Workplace culture

Creating a workplace culture that prioritises safety, encourages open discussion about potential dangers, and assists employees in maintaining their well-being is critical.

Targeted training

Targeted training programmes can be adapted to specific industries, like construction, agriculture, or healthcare, to address workplace concerns.

Early intervention

Early intervention can prevent minor injuries from becoming severe and debilitating.

Psychosocial factors

It is also critical to understand how psychosocial factors such as stress, workload, and job satisfaction affect body-stressing risks.

Physiotherapy Lavington | Body Stressing Awareness Program

What is the Body Stressing Awareness Program

A “Body Stressing Awareness Program” is a program that aims to educate individuals and businesses about the hazards and prevention of musculoskeletal injuries, often known as body stressing. These programs are intended to reduce the number of injuries caused by hazardous manual tasks and provide a safer working environment.
The Body Stressing Awareness Program was developed by Dave Rossiter and was previously implemented with the OHS team on the Westgate Bridge Strengthening Project (John Holland).
This program encompasses the Victorian Compliance Code: Hazardous Manual Handling and takes the process down to the workplace team level.
The program identifies 16 body-stressing activities that could increase the risk of injury during the routine daily workflow.
These body-stressing risks are then reviewed using the Body Stressing Awareness Tool to encourage discussions amongst the workers and supervisors/managers to identify adequate and suitable control measures.
As part of the process, Safe Work Method Statements are also reviewed to ensure that they identify all steps undertaken within the given task, all risks and hazards are clearly identified, and control measures are put in place.
By involving the work group in the development of the control measures (based on the compliance code and review and revision of risk control measures). Compliance with those control measures was noted to increase dramatically, as it was the common goal driven by the team.

Your Workplace Could Utilise the Body Stressing Awareness Program to Help:

Educate supervisors/managers on identifying and controlling manual handling risks.
Increase communication between workers and their supervisors.
Reduce workplace incidents and/or injuries.
To help update your Safe Work Method Statements.

Final Thoughts

High levels of workplace stress lead to decreased productivity, absenteeism, and burnout. Programs that focus on body stress awareness can be a crucial part of employee wellness initiatives, promoting a healthier and more supportive work environment.

Workplaces that use Body Stressing Awareness Programs can create a safer atmosphere, lower the occurrence of injuries, and improve their employees’ general well-being.

The ultimate goal of a Body Stressing Awareness Program is also to help individuals become more attuned to their physical selves, recognise the impact of stress on their bodies, and equip them with practical tools to alleviate physical tension and build greater resilience.

Your Partner in Workplace Wellness

Lavington is a dynamic and expanding suburb in Albury, NSW, distinguished by its thriving community and strong local economy. Enhance Physiotherapy is a clinic serving the Lavington region and nearby areas, offering high-quality physiotherapy and comprehensive care to residents, athletes, and those in the workforce.

For more information about the Body Stressing Awareness Program or to discuss your specific needs, please visit the Enhance Physiotherapy clinic. Our dedicated team is here to assist you. If you have a specific health concern you'd like to address or wish to proactively avoid injuries, our professional physiotherapist Lavington team provides comprehensive guidance. Schedule a consultation and take the first step towards a healthier, safer workplace.