According to statistics provided by WorkSafe Victoria, the construction industry had the third highest amount of WorkCover claims in the year 2011/12. Even more worrying, 22% of workplace fatalities in the past decade have occurred in the construction industry, even though that industry only employs 9% of the workforce. Whilst manual handling and physical injuries are often seen as the primary risk for tradespeople, the trauma of witnessing a fatality on site, a near fatality, or even a serious physical injury can cause significant primary psychiatric injuries to onlookers. When such an incident occurs, it is important that those on site consider their health and seek appropriate treatment. Other forms of primary psychiatric injury may occur due to bullying, harassment or overwork. It is also important to note that it is possible for a tradesperson to develop a psychiatric or psychological injury as a result of a physical injury. We encourage tradespeople to recognise that these psychiatric symptoms and conditions can be accepted as part of your claim. If you have any queries about any aspect of a psychiatric or psychological injury, please call our Adviceline for obligation free assistance on (03) 9321 9988.