Key Insights from Safe Work Australia’s Latest Report.

Safe Work Australia has unveiled a comprehensive report providing a nation-wide overview of work health and safety for 2021 and 2022. Highlighting the significance of workplace safety, data reveals that in the past decade, Australian workplaces have witnessed over 1,850 traumatic injury fatalities. Furthermore, over 1.14 million serious compensation claims have been lodged, representing about 1 in 12 workers.

In their compelling report titled “Key Work Health and Safety Statistics 2023,” it’s indicated that the annual cost burden of work-related injuries and illnesses is a staggering $28.6 billion on our economy. This figure equates to a potential 1.3% wage increase for all workers or an addition of 185,500 jobs if these incidents hadn’t transpired.

Key Insights from the Report:

A predominant cause of fatalities remains vehicle incidents and being hit by moving objects.

Alarming trends show a surge in work-related mental health conditions. When these arise, affected workers take over four times the standard leave compared to other injuries.

A Snapshot of 2022 Data:

195 individuals tragically lost their lives due to workrelated injuries, marking an increase from 172 in 2021. However, a silver lining is the declining trend since 2007.

New South Wales recorded the highest fatalities at 51, closely followed by Queensland at 49. Western Australia and the Northern Territory observed the highest fatality rates, emphasizing the urgency to address this issue.

2022 Fatality Statistics:

An overwhelming 93% of fatalities were male. Vehicle incidents were the leading cause, accounting for 42%.

Machinery operators and drivers were the hardest hit, with 74 fatalities.

The agriculture, forestry, and fishing industry remained the most hazardous.

Regarding compensation claims for 2021-22:

A total of 127,800 serious claims were lodged, with “serious” defined as cases warranting a week or more off work.

Body stressing – encompassing falls, slips, trips, and hits by moving objects – was the primary claim cause at 32.6%.

There was a notable rise in claims related to mental health (9.2%) and COVID-19 (from 400 in 2020-21 to 9,500 in 2021-22).

For a detailed dive into this report and further information, we recommend members review the original articles:

“Still too many work-related fatalities and injuries,” SafeWork Australia, 28th September 2023.

“Key Work Health and Safety Statistics Australia,” SafeWork Australia, 2023.