Across Australia, construction sites continue to face the same recurring hazards: smooth access, crushed door tracks and avoidable slip, trip and fall injuries. TOUGHTRACKS published articles make one thing clear. The data is consistent, predictable and expensive.
Safe Work Australia injury statistics show:
-
Slip, trip and fall injuries remain one of the top causes of serious claims.
-
Average cost per claim: $18,479.
-
Average time off work: 8.5 weeks.
-
Construction ranks among the highest industries for serious injury frequency.
These aren’t rare events. They’re everyday incidents caused by everyday site conditions especially around doorways, tracks, and temporary access points. Builders have a lot of responsibility to manage each day as it is without the added pressure of preventable damage and avoidable site hazards.
The real cost of the old method (plywood ramps)
Most sites still rely on makeshift plywood ramps or scrap timber to bridge door tracks. Even without including the labour time to fabricate those ramps, the old method still leads to the highest risk exposure to damage.
Installation new door frames
-
$1,500+ per new door frame Damage, rework, track repairs, clean up, and repeated temporary access fixes.
-
TOUGHTRACKS x 3: $1,200 total One-time payment for three reusable units.
Repairs
-
Current method: $300–$1,200 per repair, every time Crushed tracks, bent frames, chipped tiles, damaged sills.
-
TOUGHTRACKS: $0 No track damage. Nothing to repair.
Workplace injuries
-
Plywood ramps: Unstable timber, uneven edges, debris build up. $18,479 average claim 8.5 weeks off work
-
TOUGHTRACKS: Reduced injury risk Stable, engineered access eliminates the most common doorway hazards.
Cleaning and debris removal
-
Exposed to debris: $100 per door 1.5 hours labour per clean. Render, plaster, general debris that cakes on door frames. Then add the cost of repairing scratches from the clean.
-
TOUGHTRACKS track covers: $0 No debris. No clean up.
Value to builders
Builders already carry a huge amount of responsibility, and the last thing they need is extra pressure from preventable damage, delays or defects. The current method creates a time blowout on every project through rework, cleanup, repairs, injury management and constant interruptions. TOUGHTRACKS gives builders a completely different experience. It’s reusable, consistent and removes the headaches that come with protecting door frames because one purchase safeguards every opening on every project. The recent article about the three‑million‑dollar sale that collapsed due to defects shows how far these issues can reach. They go well beyond the small upfront investment and can derail major deals, damage reputations and cost builders far more than doing it right from the start.