New figures from Safe Work Australia have been released, and there is an indication that workplace safety is improving across the board.
Published in the 16th edition of the Comparative Performance Monitoring report, the number of work-related compensated injury fatalities are at the lowest in a decade.
Based on high results in the early 2000s, Safe Work Australia set a goal of reducing the rate of work injury fatalities by 20 per cent in 10 years. However, in 2012, it was actually reduced by an incredible 41 per cent.
Acting Chief Executive Officer at Safe Work Australia Michelle Baxter explained that these figures were positive, workplace safety should continue to be a focus.
“While this is a good result, there were still 178 compensated injury and disease fatalities recorded in Australia for 2012-13. More work is needed to improve work health and safety and reduce this figure even further,” she said.
The report offers insight into trends in Australia and New Zealand around work health and safety as well as the worker compensation schemes.
Serious injury rate
One area that still needs close attention is the serious injury rate. In 2012-2013, 11 out of every 1,000 workers were forced to miss at least one week of work because of an injury sustained on the job.
Safe Work Australia wanted a 40 per cent reduction in this category as well, but the country could only manage 26 per cent across the decade.
Ms Baxter explained it is up to individual workplaces and industry associations to improve safety and see better results in the future.
“To continue to see a decrease in injury and disease in the workplace we must stay committed to work health and safety and set high targets to ensure safer workplaces for all Australians,” she said.
“It is through raising awareness of work health and safety and encouraging workers to speak up about hazards that these figures will continue to drop.”
NSW workers’ compensation
It is important to remember that in NSW, anyone injured in the workplace is able to claim for workers’ compensation. There are personal injury lawyers available who specialise in these claims and are able to provide a free consultation to discuss your personal situation.
Many lawyers operate on a no win, no fee basis, so they can advise you on your chances of success free of charge – if they think you have a case, it’s completely up to you whether you engage their services.
