Back to work: Kylie Bryant has been able to return to full-time work with help and support from WorkCover and her employers.
KNOX businesses have spent more than $69million in the past five years paying for workers who have been injured on the job.
Latest figures released by WorkSafe show Knox had 2995 claims for musculoskeletal injuries such as broken bones, sprains and torn muscles - the highest figure in outer eastern Melbourne.
The figures, which don't include self-insured businesses like supermarkets, showed most injury claims for Knox involved manufacturing workers, which accounted for 906 claims.
The WorkSafe report on musculoskeletal injuries states that 445 work injury claims came from the municipality's wholesale trade, followed by health care and social assistance (358 claims) and construction (294).
Kylie Bryant, a home care worker for Knox Council, was forced to take a year off work after she developed severe sciatica in her back and right leg in late 2010.
"I tried to keep doing the usual things, but the pain was becoming worse. I couldn't stand straight and everything was a struggle."
Through WorkCover, the 37 year old was able to return to her job, firstly on light duties, before recommencing full duties in January this year.
She told the Weekly her injury led to the council bringing in new equipment to make the job less strenuous on employees.
Ms Bryant hoped to inspire other injured workers get back to work - "you've got to bash down that brick wall. "
WorkSafe's director of health and safety Ian Forsyth pleaded with employers to take more care.
"Very often, people often know what has to be done to get the job done safely, but shortcuts can be taken. Often, it can be a shortcut to a serious health problem," he said.
"Ensuring workers are properly trained and supervised, that they have and use appropriate equipment to lift and move loads, that spills are cleaned up and safe systems of work are in place will reduce the opportunity for these injuries to happen."