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Work-related traumatic injury fatalities – Australia 2003-2016.

The work-related traumatic injury fatalities data provides statistics about people who die each year from injuries caused by work-related activity. It includes fatalities that result from an injury sustained in the course of a work activity (worker fatality) and as a result of someone else’s work activity (bystander fatality). Data inclusions and exclusions are outlined below.

• In the 14 years from 2003 to 2016, 3,414 workers lost their lives in work-related incidents.
• In 2016, there were 182 worker fatalities, equating to a fatality rate of 1.5 fatalities per 100,000 workers—the lowest rate since the series began in 2003.
• In 2016, half (50%) of worker fatalities occurred within the Transport, postal and warehousing and Agriculture, forestry and fishing industry.
• Over the 10 year period from 2007 to 2016, 64% of worker fatalities involved vehicles, of which just over 45% were due to a vehicle collision on a public road.
• Over the last 10 years, the oldest (65 years and over) and youngest (14 and under) age groups accounted for the highest proportion of bystander fatalities, 23% and 16% respectively.

Data collected includes

The scope of this collection includes 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.

The report includes everyone killed:

• while working including unpaid volunteers and family workers, carrying out work experience, and defence force personnel killed within Australian territories or territorial waters or travelling for work (worker fatalities)
• as a result of someone else’s work activity (bystander fatalities).

Data collected excludes

The collection specifically excludes those who died:

• of iatrogenic injuries—the worker 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 diseases, such as cancers
• by self-inflicted injuries (suicide).

People who died of injuries caused by someone else’s work activity while they are classified as a worker rather than a bystander.

Year-to-date 2019: Preliminary worker deaths by industry of workplace.

As at 16 May, there have been 56 Australian workers killed at work in 2019.

In 2018, the preliminary data show there were 157 Australian workers killed at work, compared with 190 workers in 2017. These 2018 figures are preliminary figures and will be updated when more information becomes available.

The number of worker deaths listed in this table is based on initial media reports and is a preliminary estimate of the number of people killed while working. Once the appropriate authority has investigated the death, more accurate information becomes available from which Safe Work Australia updates details of the incident. Updated information is used to publish Safe Work Australia’s annual Work-related Traumatic Injury Fatalities report which includes finalised work-related fatalities from 2003 onwards.

Source: SafeWork Australia https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/statistics-and-research/statistics/fatalities/fatality-statistics