380 new workers compensation claims daily
Everyday in Australia on average 380 workers suffer a work-related injury or disease for which they receive workers’ compensation, according to a report released by the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC) this week.
The annual report, Compendium of Workers’ Compensation Statistics Australia, gives a snapshot of occupational health and safety (OHS) in Australia. The latest edition shows the common trends in OHS, based on accepted workers’ compensation claims, for 2001–02.
Almost 140 000 new compensation claims were reported in 2001–02. This is an improvement of about 16% over the past 6 years.
The compendium shows that, notwithstanding a fall of 10 per cent from the previous year, there were still almost 300 work-related compensated fatalities in 2001–02. It should be noted that most work-related fatalities are not covered by workers’ compensation. NOHSC estimates that there are over 2 000 work-related deaths each year in Australia, with the majority caused by occupational diseases, such as cancer.
About half of all new workers’ compensation claims and almost half of compensable fatalities have occurred in four industries over the past 6 years. The industries are: manufacturing, construction, transport and storage, and health and community services.
NOHSC is targeting these industries for attention under the National OHS Strategy 2002–2012, which has been endorsed by all Australian governments, as well as the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the ACTU.
The compendium examines ‘body stressing’ in detail. This risk has accounted for over 50% of all claims over the past six years.
The risks of ‘being hit by or hitting objects with a part of the body’ and ‘falls, trips and slips’ accounted for a further 30% of all compensation claims in 2001-02. NOHSC is also focusing on these three risks under the National OHS Strategy.
The compendium is available free from the NOHSC website at:
http://www.nohsc.gov.au/Statistics/publications/#compendium
Further information on the compendium can be obtained from the Statistics and CPM Support Team at ASCC.
15 January 2004
Page last updated: 06/07/2008