As a tradesman, your safety when on-site is of the utmost importance. There are dozens of protective measures put in place, both physical and financial to accommodate for most dangerous situations that might develop. Unfortunately for many Australians, consideration of off-job risks are often neglected. It is vitally important to acquire some income protection to provide peace of mind for families and loved ones.Most tradesman understand that a serious illness or injury can really have a detrimental effect on their family and lifestyle. In a recent Lifebroker Life Insurance Research Report, almost half of the respondents queried replied that just 3 months of stopped work from an illness or injury would cause financial stress and strain on their families. This is exactly the problem that income protection is designed to solve.As a tradesman, there are more males employed than females due to the hazardous nature of the work. When the Australian Bureau Of Statistics (ABS) looked at statistics of injuries at work overall, males were found to be more likely to be injured than females. In the primarily male-dominated trade industry, this statistic is even more pronounced. In a 2006 study, the ABS also uncovered that 6.4% of Australians were injured at work, or approximately 690,000 people. In the construction industry, 86 out of 1000 people employed suffered an work-related injury.If you are a tradesman who is self-employed, the need for trauma insurance is even greater. While the advantages of being your own boss are terrific, in the event of an illness or injury there is usually no backup. With the majority of the work completed personally, when you are injured or ill there is no income coming in. Worker’s Compensation, while a great help, cannot be relied upon to protect your family’s income. Remember, not all injuries and illness happen during work hours – a big percentage can occur off-site.Obtaining the proper insurance benefits to protect your family, pay off debts, and continue to run the business is extremely important. Do not fall into the trap of being complacent, only to wish you had income protection after an injury or illness has occurred. Take action today to give you and your family peace of mind.