Exoskeletons including high-tech glove trialled to reduce workplace injuries

Millions of Australians put their bodies on the line every day to keep some of the nation's essential industries moving — and the physical toll is mounting.

Joint, ligament and muscle injuries lead the way in serious workers' compensation claims, and the numbers are climbing, according to a new Safe Work Australia report.

The annual snapshot reveals such claims rose to 53,000 in 2022-23, up from 49,300 the previous year. Musculoskeletal claims are also on the rise.

In the chilled rooms of Australia's meat-processing plants, Chris Fitzgerald is one professional investigating how technology could turn the trend around.

The ergonomist watches as workers strap on the Iron Hand — a high-tech glove linked via cables to a powered backpack.

"This is truly a revolutionary device,"

he said.

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