Three - The most common types of workplace injuries
According to Safe Work Australia, the most common types of workplace injuries in 2021-2022 included:
Traumatic injuries to joints, ligaments, muscles or tendons (36.7%)
Wounds, lacerations, amputations and damage to internal organs (17.6%)
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue diseases (12.7%)
Fractures (11.5%)
Mental health conditions (6.5%)
Four – Workplace injuries claims by occupation or industry
According to data collated and reviewed by Safe Work Australia, there were four occupational groups that accounted for more than 75% of serious injuries at work claims in 2021-2022:
Labourers made 34,900 serious claims (27.5% of serious workplace injuries claims)
Community and personal service workers made 27,500 claims (21.7% of serious workplace injuries claims)
Workers in technical and trades industries made 20,000 claims (15.8% of serious workplace injuries claims)
Workers operating or driving machinery made 16,200 claims (12.8% of serious work injuries claims)
Despite these four occupational groups accounting for 77.7% of serious workplace injuries claims during 2021-2022, they represent only 38.2% of Australian workers.
Five – Workplace fatalities claims
In 2022 :
195 Australian workers died from work injuries. 181 of those workers were male and 14 were female
The highest number of workplace fatalities occurred in New South Wales (51 workers), followed by 49 workers in Queensland
The highest workplace fatality age group was workers aged 65 and over (6.2 fatalities per 100,000 workers)
The youngest age group for workplace fatalities was workers aged 25 and under (0.8 fatalities per 100,000 workers).
Six - The most common causes of workplace fatalities
Safe Work Australia’s insights into work-related injury fatalities include workers who die from injuries at work. They do not include workplace fatalities from disease, natural causes or suicide. The most common causes of workplace injuries leading to fatality in 2022 included:
Vehicle incidents, including cars, trucks, aircraft, boats, tractors, loaders and quad bikes (81 workers)
Being hit by moving objects (26 workers)
Being hit by falling objects (17 workers) and falling from a height (17 workers)
Seven – Workplace fatalities claims by occupation or industry
72% of workplace fatalities in 2022 directly involved at least one vehicle. The three occupations that recorded the highest number of worker fatalities in 2022 were:
74 machinery operators or drivers died because of work injuries (38% of workplace fatalities or 8.4 per 100,000 workers)
34 labourers died in a work-related incident (2.9 workplace fatalities per 100,000 workers)
32 managers died (1.8 workplace fatalities per 100,000 workers)
The main industries in which workers sustained fatal workplace injuries included:
Agriculture, forestry and fishing (44 workers died or 14.7 workplace fatalities per 100,000 workers)
Transport, postal and warehousing (67 workers died or 9.5 fatalities per 100,000 workers)
Electricity, gas, water and waste services (5 workers died or 3.0 fatalities per 100,000 workers)
Mining (7 workers died or 2.4 fatalities per 100,000 workers)
Construction (27 workers died or 2.2 workplace fatalities per 100,000 workers)
What is the Australian WHS strategy for 2023 to 2033?
Injuries at work and workplace fatalities have significant personal, workplace and economic impacts. The Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2023 – 2033 has been endorsed by the national and all state and territory governments, as well as the ACTU. It sets goals for key WHS improvements to reduce workers’ injuries and illnesses, workplace fatalities and ensure that workers return home safely.
How Shine Lawyers can help
If you or your loved one has been injured in a work-related incident, you don’t have to go it alone. At Shine Lawyers we’re committed to ensuring Australian workers have access to legal advice and support, no matter where you are or what your financial circumstances are.
Shine Lawyers’ workers’ compensation teams can help you in:
In each state and territory, our workers’ compensation services are offered on a No Win No Fee* basis. This means you won't have to pay our legal fees unless we win your workers' compensation claim.
Check if you have a workers’ compensation claim with our free claim check.
*Conditions apply