print :

2015-10-23

safety first

Three workplace deaths a week in 2015

On average, three workers have died each week in Australia this year as a result of work-related injuries or illnesses. 

The highest number of recorded fatalities occurred in the transport, postal and warehousing
sector, which have accounted for 42 deaths so far in 2015.

Unions meeting in mid-October to consider health and safety and workers compensation issue said that those numbers showed how much still remains to be done to improve the safety of Australian workplaces.

Data from Worksafe Australia also shows that 531,800 workers are injured – 118,000 of those seriously – each year, costing Australia more than $60 billion annually.

An additional area of concern that the ACTU conference focused on was workplace mental health and bullying. Despite the introduction of anti-bullying legislation in 2014, unions believe that workplace bullying remains under-regulated and affects both men and women causing long term physiological issues and in
the worst cases, death.

In 2012-13 (the latest data available), 9.4% of all serious Workers Compensation claims made by women were for mental disorders and there was a 17% increase in the number of serious claims caused by mental stress.

ACTU Assistant Secretary, Michael Borowick, said that health and safety was another area where the federal government was failing Australians.

“Employers, governments and unions must work together to ensure safety is at the highest level in our workplaces because we can do a lot better than we currently are,” he said.

What's New

Telecommunication

Telstra EBA 2018
ACTU turns 90
May Day 2016
Optus EPA approved
Telstra EA Update
Optus award update

Postal

Reps training
Reasonable overtime
Vale Jojie Vivar
Changes to Bulletin
Christmas pay rises
Postal reform
Facebook bullying
Year in review
Vale Jim Armstrong

News

Happy New Year
Happy New Year
Vale Shane Morse
Meeting reminder
Coronavirus Update
METRO RALLY
Reps training
ACTU turns 90
Vale Jojie Vivar
May Day 2016
Facebook bullying
May Day 2015
Working In Heat
Your Union Petition
Save our Posties
Sensis Sell Off
""