Lowest compensated fatality rate in a decade

Data released today in Safe Work Australia’s latest ‘Comparative Performance Monitoring’ report shows work-related compensated injury fatalities are at their lowest level since 2002.

The 16th edition of the report provides trend analysis on the work health and safety and workers compensation schemes operating in Australia and New Zealand.

In releasing the report, Michelle Baxter, acting chief executive officer, Safe Work Australia, recognised the progress Australia has made but noted there was still room for improvement.

“Over a decade ago Australia set a national target of reducing the incidence rate of compensated injury and musculoskeletal disorder fatalities by 20% by 2012. This report shows that as a nation we not only achieved but surpassed this target, with a 41% reduction in fatalities,” said Baxter.

“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.”

The report revealed that in 2012-13, 11 out of every 1000 workers were injured seriously enough to require one week or more off work. While there has been a 26% improvement since 2002, the target of a 40% reduction in the rate of injuries by 2012 was not achieved.

“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,” said Baxter.

“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. Safe Work Australia Month is the perfect opportunity to do this.”

Key findings from the report included:

• The rate of return to work following an injury increased two percentage points from last year with 77% of injured workers successfully returning to work within eight to 10 months of sustaining their injury in 2012-13.
• The transport and storage, manufacturing, construction, and agriculture, forestry and fishing industries have substantially higher fatality and injury rates than the national average.
• Australian workers compensation schemes paid out more than $7.9 billion with around half (53%) paid directly to injured workers in compensation for their injury or illness and 23% spent on medical and other services.
•  Body stressing continued to be the main cause of injury/disease, accounting for 41% of claims.

Work health and safety authorities undertook close to 213,600 workplace interventions and issued 49,935 notices during 2012-13.

Employers are now paying 1.53% of payroll in workers compensation premiums compared to 1.56% in 2008-09.

The full report is available on the Safe Work Australia website.