Workers’ compensation provider Insurance & Care NSW (icare) hopes to improve workplace safety in the manufacturing, construction, health and community services industries with its Paralympian speakers program.

Paralympians who were injured at work have visited more than 70 workplaces across the state to tell their stories.

In the past year more than 10,700 people have been hurt in workplace accidents in the manufacturing industry, with 9000 injured in the construction industry and 6000 hurt working in health and community services, according to icare.

GM Loss Prevention and Pricing, Workers’ Insurance, Jason McLaughlin says the speakers program – run in partnership with the Australian Paralympic Committee – empowers employees to change safety culture by understanding injury prevention.

NSW employers can reduce productivity losses, improve return-to-work outcomes and lower workers’ insurance claims and premiums by putting injury prevention first, he says.