Spotlight

18 August 2017

10 years in Safety: Deaths in the Workplace 2007-2017

workers-on-rooftop-659885_1920

Workplace Fatalities

According to recently-released figures of workplace fatalities by Safe Work Australia, 103 Australians have died at work in 2017. These figures, collated between January 1 and June 29, present some deeply troubling data.

This data comes with a heavy precedent: Between 2003 and 2015, 65 percent of total workplace deaths involved vehicles, with 27 percent resulting from vehicle collision. These figures are sadly consistent with the fact that more workers die in the transport sector than in any other—38 deaths have occurred in this sector in 2017 already.

The following statistics were adapted from Safe Work Australia, and are based on numerous sources including workers’ compensation data, coronial information, notifiable fatalities, and media coverage. They record fatalities resulting from injuries sustained during a work activity, and those resulting from another’s work activity.

Statistics

The statistics in this document include everyone:

  • Who was fatally injured
  • Whose injuries resulted from work activity or exposures
  • Whose injuries occurred in an incident that took place in Australian territories or territorial waters
  • Who was killed while working, including unpaid volunteers and family workers, people carrying out work experience, and defence force personnel killed within Australian territories/territorial waters or travelling for work (worker fatalities)
  • Who died as a result of someone else’s work activity (bystander fatalities)

This data does not include those who died:

  • Due to medical intervention
  • Due to natural causes, such as heart attacks and strokes, except where a work-related injury was the direct cause of the heart attack or stroke
  • As a result of disease, such as cancer
  • By self-inflicted injuries (suicide)

 

2007-2015 Data

number-of-fatallities-2007-2015

worker-fatalities-occupation-2007-2015

 

fatalities-mechanism-of-incident-2007-2015

bystandter-fatalities-age-group-2007-2015

Summary of findings

  • In the years 2007 to 2015, 1188 workers have lost their lives in work-related incidents
  • The fatality rate has decreased by 44% from 2007 to 2015
  • Machinery operators and drivers are the most susceptible to workplace death and vehicle collision is the most common mechanism of accident
  • The clerical and administrative industry has the least workplace deaths

From 2007-2015, the oldest (65 years and over) and youngest (14 and under) age groups accounted for the highest proportion of bystander fatalities.

 

2016 – July 2017 Data

total-deaths-20016-2017

The information in the graph below is based on initial media reports, and is an estimate of the number of people killed while working. Once the appropriate authorities have investigated these deaths, more accurate information will become available, and shall be included in Safe Work Australia’s annual Work-related Traumatic Injury Fatalities report.

Summary of Findings

  • 281 people have died from workplace incidents from 2016-July 2017
  • So far in 2017, 103 Australian workers have been killed at work
  • Compared to Jan-Jul 2016, there has been an 8.7% increase in deaths in Jan-July 2017
  • The transport, postal and warehousing industries have caused the most workplace deaths, making up 40.8% of deaths in 2017 so far (and 37.7% of total deaths from 2016-July 2017)
  • Financial and insurance services are the safest industries, with no deaths from 2016-July 2017

2007-2017 Statistics Highlight the Importance of Workplace Training

In 2017 so far, 20 people have died working in the agriculture, forestry, and fishing industries, and 16 have died working in construction. In 2015, 47 percent of all worker deaths occurred in the transport, postal and warehousing and the agriculture forestry and fishing industry—consistent with data showing that, after vehicle collisions, being hit by a moving object and falling from a ladder are the leading causes of workplace fatalities. Although there has a been a consistent decline in deaths in the workplace from 2003 until the present, after a spike in 2007, many fatalities in the workplace are, tragically, otherwise avoidable.

The above data leads to a single conclusion: Being safe at work should be the top priority of both employers and employees. Physical labour can pose a great risk to workers—precautions must be taken, and training is a must.

At Baseline Training, we are committed to providing consistent, high quality, realistic, and relevant high-risk training. Our training courses reduce risk, improve productivity, boost confidence, and maintain competency in various high-risk workplaces.

CONTACT US

According to recently-released figures of workplace fatalities by Safe Work Australia, 103 Australians have died at work in 2017.

Spotlight News

7 July 2023
Building client regional capability
Read more
25 August 2022
Work Safely at Heights VAE Group
Read more
19 August 2022
Emergency Response Training (ERT) Skills Maintenance
Read more
Baseline Training Pty Ltd
4.4
Based on 5 reviews
powered by Google
js_loader