Workers compensation statistics released

The Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC) Chairman Bill Scales AO recently announced the release of the Annual Compendium of Workers' Compensation Statistics 2006–07 report. The Compendium, the sixteenth report in series, provides a detailed analysis of compensated work-related injury and disease among employees in Australia.

“Preliminary data in the Compendium showed that in 2006–07 there were 236 compensated fatalities and 132,055 serious workers compensation claims in Australia,” Scales said. “This equates to 2.5 fatalities per 100,000 employees and 14 serious workers compensation claims per 1000 employees. Even one work-related death is one too many. However, as a nation we are continuing to reduce workplace fatalities.

“Over the period 2000–01 to 2005–06, the number of workplace fatalities fell 21%, from 320 down to 254. In this period, incidence rates also fell by 29%, from 4.0 fatalities per 100,000 employees down to 2.8.”

Key findings of the Compendium include:

• The majority (73%) of the serious claims involved injury (95,910 claims) and the remaining 27% (36,145 claims) were disease related. The most common injury leading to a serious claim was sprains and strains of joints and adjacent muscles, accounting for 41% of all serious claims.
• Men accounted for 68% of the incidence rates of serious workers compensation claims.
• Over the period 2000–01 to 2005–06, the number of serious claims decreased 6% from 144,740 to 136,575. All industries recorded falls in incidence rates, though the wholesale trade industry only recorded a 1% fall. The electricity, gas and water supply industry recorded the greatest percentage improvement, a 43% fall, followed by the mining industry with a 36% fall.
• The construction industry recorded the highest number of fatalities (50) followed by the transport and storage industry (45, of which 31 were in road freight transport).
• Vehicle accident was the most common cause of death, accounting for a third of the 236 fatalities, followed by 31 deaths from long-term contact with chemicals or substances.

Scales implored workers and managers to be continually vigilant in relation to workplace safety: “We all have a responsibility for safety in our workplaces. And with a continued focus by workers, employers and governments we can continue to reduce death, injury and disease in Australian workplaces.”

The Annual Compendium of Workers' Compensation Statistics 2006–07 report is available for free download from www.ascc.gov.au.