Manufacturing workers facing health problems: research

While manufacturing workers have traditionally avoided such a tag because their work was seen to involve physical labour that kept them fit, new research from WorkSafe Victoria shows the tables have dramatically turned.

The new figures show 32 per cent of manufacturing workers were at high risk of type two diabetes compared to 18.3 per cent in the professional, scientific and technical services.

The figures were compiled by WorkSafe Victoria which has conducted 40,919 voluntary WorkHealth checks on manufacturing workers - testing things such as cholesterol, blood pressure and lifestyle behaviours.

The results also showed 6.1 per cent of manufacturing workers have a high risk of heart disease, compared to 3.1 per cent of white collar workers and 25.2 per cent smoked, compared to 13.6 per cent of professionals.

WorkHealth Ambassador Wayne Kayler-Thomson attributes the turnaround to the changing nature of the manufacturing industry where jobs are becoming more sedentary thanks to new technology.

Meanwhile, white collar workers and their employers have taken action to improve their health by adopting initiatives like healthier food choices in their cafes, encouraging workers to ride bikes to work and other health practices.

Kayler-Thomson said the manufacturing industry now needed to catch up and adopt similar action.

"There are really simple, cost-effective things that employers can do straight away - such as providing facilities to enable riding to work, stretch programs at the start of every shift, or longer-term health related competitions and challenges," he said.