New insights reveal that despite significant progress in workplace safety over the years, Australians in the workforce still face high risks of job-related illness and injury. Regrettably, fatalities from workplace injuries increased from 195 in 2022 to 200 in 2023, as made evident by Safe Work Australia’s Key Work Health and Safety Statistics Australia 2024.
This annual publication offers a comprehensive overview of the state of workplace health and safety across Australia, presenting the most recent data on work-related fatalities, injuries, and disease. Even though the rates of work-based fatalities, injury and illness have significantly dropped over time, they can profoundly impact workers, communities, and the broader economy.
Work-related injury rate currently stands at 3.5% – showcasing the percentage of individuals who experienced a job-related injury or sickness within the last year. Interestingly, this rate is approximately one-third of the global average at 12.1%. This reaffirms the importance of using work safety products like Bluesafe WHS Management System, SWMS, and other protocols meticulously designed to bolster workspace safety.
According to the report, a staggering 76% of work-related traumatic injury fatalities and 61% of serious workers’ compensation claims happen within only six industries, with transport, agriculture, public administration, warehousing, manufacturing, healthcare & social assistance, construction being the most affected.
Vehicle accidents persistently account for the highest fraction of worker fatalities (42%; 84 fatalities), while workplace incidents involving falls from height marked the second-highest contributor to worker fatalities, recording an alarming 71% spike since 2022, from 17 to 29 fatalities.
The report further highlighted that claims related to mental health conditions saw an increase in 2023, now representing 10.5% of all severe claims, emphasising the need for more robust mental health support systems at workplaces. For such cases, the median recovery time was found to be over five times longer than traditional injuries and diseases.
Browse through the Key Work Health and Safety Statistics Australia 2024 report and delve into more detailed data on Safe Work Australia’s interactive data site – Our Data. Your Stories.
Work-related injury fatalities 2023
Work-related injury and illness 2023
Marie Boland, CEO of Safe Work Australia, pointed out that “All workers are entitled to a healthy and safe working space. Even a single case of workplace death is one case too many.” Despite comparisons revealing better conditions here than other parts of the world, she cautioned against complacency and referenced the distressing fact that 200 employees failed to return home in 2023 due to work-place incidents.
She further emphasised how these figures underscored the need for robust legislative actions to safeguard workers, emphasising the roles of WHS officers and everyone with safety obligations in their workplaces.
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Original article link: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/media-centre/news/key-work-health-and-safety-statistics-2024