One bad injury. No income: Why most tradies are still exposed
Let’s be straight. Trade work is hard on the body. Early starts, heavy gear, long days and zero room for mistakes. But there’s one risk a lot of tradies still ignore. If you get hurt and can’t work, who’s covering your income?. The latest Intrade Quarterly Report shows a reality many don’t want to think about. More than half of Aussie tradies have no injury insurance in place.
If you’re off the tools, the bills don’t stop.
On site, injuries aren’t rare. A slip, a bad knee, a smashed hand or a back that finally gives up after years of work. It doesn’t take much to put you out for weeks or months. And when that happens, the pay usually stops straight away.
That’s where the numbers start to matter.
The numbers most tradies don’t want to look at
According to the Intrade Quarterly Report, only 39% of tradies are properly covered if they get injured and can’t work. These are the ones who still have money coming in, even when they’re sidelined.
Another 36% are running without any cover at all. No work means no pay, and unless there’s serious savings behind them, things can go bad fast.
Then there’s the remaining 23% who haven’t even considered insurance. That’s the real blind spot. You can’t plan for a risk you’re pretending doesn’t exist.
“Getting injured is part of the job. Losing your income shouldn’t be.”
Why this matters more than people admit
An injury doesn’t just stop your work. It keeps the bills rolling while the income dries up. Rent or a mortgage doesn’t pause. Groceries don’t get cheaper. Tool repayments don’t disappear.
When there’s no cover in place, the pressure hits fast. And it doesn’t just land on you. It lands on your partner, your kids and anyone else relying on that income.
This isn’t about fear. It’s about reality.
Getting on the front foot
Sorting cover doesn’t mean signing up to some gold plated policy overnight. The main thing is understanding what you actually need and making sure something is in place if you can’t work.
That usually starts with personal accident and sickness cover, and for those running their own business, looking at how expenses get covered if the work stops. Talking to someone who understands tradies helps avoid useless extras and bad fine print. Even basic cover is better than none. Sitting there hoping you don’t get hurt is the biggest gamble of all.
If you’re on the tools without a plan for getting injured, you’re gambling with your income. Injuries happen. The smart move is making sure one bad day on site doesn’t snowball into months of financial stress.
