If you think your workplace is just making you tired, then you are mistaken! An Australian survey revealed that four in five working people in the country are exposed to unsafe work practices as they have been injured, become ill, or both due to traumatic situations at work.

The survey, 'Work Shouldn't Hurt’ released by Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) Monday, revealed that nearly 80 percent of working people have been injured, become ill, or both because of their work whereas 16 percent knew someone who was killed at work or by a work-related disease.

According to Xinhua, the survey included 26,000 workers. It also found that 47 percent of respondents were exposed to either traumatic or distressing situations at work in the last 12 months and 31 percent said they have been abused, threatened or assaulted by co-workers, clients or customers.

Three out of five workers said they experienced poor mental health in the last 12 months as a result of their employer failing to address unsafe working conditions.

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Liam O''Brien, the ACTU assistant secretary, told Fairfax Media on Monday that the incidence of injuries and poor mental health were "entirely avoidable."

"Work shouldn't hurt anyone - mentally, or physically," he said. "The Work Shouldn't Hurt survey reveals that too many working people are experiencing violence, traumatic event, and poor working conditions at work and most of it is preventable," he added.

While 61 percent of workers sustained poor mental health owing to work, only nine percent made a workers' compensation claim for it and of those that did only a third were approved.

More than half the 26,000 respondents said they were aware of conditions in their workplace that could cause injury or illness.

By Sowmya Sangam