Agriculture industry fatality rate double the next highest

In Queensland, agriculture, forestry and fishing workers had the highest fatality rate at 18.4 per 100,000 workers according to the latest Work-Related Traumatic Injury Fatalities report published by Safe Work Australia.

That rate is about twice that of transport, postal and warehousing workers and three times the rate for those working in mining. The highest number of fatalities resulted from vehicle collisions, and machinery operators and drivers had the highest work fatality rate of 7.5 per 100,000 workers.

Each year, Safe Work Australia compiles the Work-Related Traumatic Injury Fatalities data set to provide national statistics on all workers and bystanders fatally injured at work. The report presents a summary of Queensland results from this dataset, based on Safe Work Australia’s key WHS statistics report and results for Australia. Work-related fatalities resulting from diseases, natural causes and suicides are excluded.

The latest statistics show Queensland's fatality rate has decreased by 56 per cent from the peak in 2007. There were 41 male work fatalities, at a rate of 3.1 per 100,000 workers and zero female worker fatalities. Of the 41 deaths, the highest numbers were for older workers. There were 14 in the 55-64 age group and 8 in the over 65 age group.

The Queensland serious claim frequency rate also dropped by 29 per cent with older workers and males having the highest claim rates. Body stressing accounted for 37 per cent of claims, with slips, trips and falls at 22 per cent and being hit by moving objects at 15 per cent.

Agriculture, forestry and fishing workers also figured prominently in the claim rates with 12.7 serious claims per million hours worked, behind the administrative and support services industry, including labour hire, which had 15.4 serious claims per million hours worked. Labourers, including those on the land, had the highest claim rate at 20.1 claims per million hours worked.

Traumatic joint or ligament, and muscle or tendon injury accounted for 49 per cent of claims, followed by wounds, lacerations, amputations and internal organ damage at 14 per cent.

Further information

Read more on key work health and safety statistics in Queensland (PDF, 0.49 MB).