Australian Workplaces Less Deadly
2 November 2015 at 9:14 am
The number of Australians being killed at work has dropped to the lowest level in over a decade of Federal Government reporting.
Minister for Employment, Senator Michaelia Cash, released the Government’s annual report on the number of Australians killed in workplace injuries, the Safe Work Australia report.
The report showed that 188 workers died from injuries in 2014, the lowest number since the Government starting collating figures 12 years ago.
In 2013 the figure stood at 191 in 2013 and 311 in 2007.
Senator Cash said while the downward trend was encouraging, it was an important reminder for Australians to work towards creating even safer work environments.
“While a single worker fatality is one too many, the overall downward trend is a positive sign that Australian businesses and workers are committed to keeping their workplaces safe,” Senator Cash said.
“Safe Work Australia data show worker fatalities have been steadily decreasing over the past decade. This trend is encouraging, however no worker should die at work and it is very important that we keep striving to ensure this number is lower again next year.
“I am pleased that Australia has made great strides in improving health and safety over the last decade.
“Our challenge is to continue this trend and National Safe Work Month is one way to put a spotlight on workplace safety and drive further improvements through education and raising awareness.”
The worker fatality rate in 2014 was 1.61 per 100,000 workers – for male workers the fatality rate was 2.81 and for female workers the rate was 0.23.
Over the 12 years of the series, one-third of workers who were killed while working died in vehicle collisions on public roads, one-third in vehicle collisions at workplaces (not on public roads) while one-third of fatalities did not involve a vehicle.
