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The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), the leading organization advocating for workers’ rights in Australia, has acknowledged the positive trend of reducing workplace fatalities. However, they emphasized that 188 families endured the tragic loss of a loved one last year, underscoring the ongoing need for safety improvements.
In 2024, incidents involving vehicles represented 42% of all worker fatalities, highlighting a significant area of concern for occupational safety. Source: SBS News
Liam O’Brien, assistant secretary of the ACTU, remarked on the heightened risks faced by certain groups of workers. “Health and care workers, tradespeople, factory workers, and those who ensure community safety are among the most vulnerable,” he stated in a recent announcement.
In the fiscal year 2023-2024, there were 146,700 serious workers’ compensation claims, each involving at least a week’s absence from work. This equates to over 400 serious claims being filed every day, signaling a critical area for occupational health focus.
In 2024, machinery operators and drivers accounted for the highest proportion of worker fatalities (32 per cent) and also recorded the highest fatality rate at 6.7 fatalities per 100,000 workers, according to the report. Source: SBS News
The agriculture, forestry and fishing industry had a rate of 13.7 fatalities per 100,000 workers in 2024, followed by transport, postal and warehousing (7.4 fatalities per 100,000 workers) and mining (3.4 fatalities per 100,000 workers).
Workers aged 45 and over accounted for more than half of worker fatalities recorded.
Mental health claims on the rise
Mental stress is now the fourth most common cause of serious claims, at 11.5 per cent.
