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Sharp rise in work related fatalities

Safe Work Australia has just released statistics on workplace related deaths and injuries during the year 2012 which show a 14% rise in the number of fatalities from 2011 figures.

As at 31 December 2012, 192 Australian workers were killed while at work. During the same period in 2011, 166 deaths had occurred.

However, despite undergoing rapid growth over the past 12 months, the mining sector enjoyed a decline in fatalities from nine deaths in 2011 to five in 2012.

Transport Postal and Warehousing workers recorded the highest number of fatalities at 66, while is seems the Armed Forces (somewhat surprisingly) is the safest sector to work in Australia, recording just one death. Agriculture Forestry and Fishing is Australia’s second most lethal industry sector, recording 45 fatalities.

The Construction sector recorded 21 deaths while Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services recorded four.

While even one death is too many, the reduction in fatalities in the mining sector would indicate that stringent safety strategies adopted by the industry over the past 20 years are working. When compared to other industries, such as construction and transport that have similarly dangerous working conditions and environments, the mining sector’s safety report card stacks up well.

However until the industry becomes completely fatality-free there will always be room for improvement.

Safe Work Australia records information, updates statistics and prepares various reports after every work-related fatality in the country.

More detailed statistics can be found on the Safe Work Australia website www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au

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