Australia’s deadliest jobs: Most dangerous occupations and work places revealed

Australia’s deadliest jobs revealed: Labourers top the list of most dangerous occupations – and just three industries account for the majority of all workplace deaths

  • Three surprising industries accounted for 72 per cent workplace deaths  
  • Labourers made up the largest proportion of workers killed, followed by drivers 
  • Work fatalities have actually decreased by almost half over the last decade

Australia’s deadliest occupations have been revealed, with just three industries responsible for the majority of all work-related deaths. 

Of the 190 fatalities in 2017, 72 per cent occurred in three fields: transport, postal and warehousing (54); agriculture, forestry and fishing (52); and construction (30).  

Tragically, a total of 56 labourers were killed, accounting for the largest proportion (29 per cent), closely followed by drivers and machine operators (55 fatalities).  

Transport, postal and warehousing (54 fatalities) accounted for more than a quarter of fatalities in 2017 (28 per cent)

The agriculture, forestry and fishing industry accounted for 52 work-related deaths. 

The agriculture, forestry and fishing industry accounted for 52 work-related deaths. 

Construction workers also recorded some of the highest death rates related to workplace injuries (30 fatalities, 16 per cent).

Construction workers also recorded some of the highest death rates related to workplace injuries (30 fatalities, 16 per cent).

Technicians and trades workers, including electricians, bricklayers and painters, recorded 17 deaths (9 per cent). 

Labourers were commonly employed in farming, construction and mining industries, while machinery operators and drivers predominantly worked on road or rail.

The fourth most common work-related deaths were in arts and recreation. These  employees typically engage in live performances, sports and recreational activities.

The most common recorded causes of death were vehicle collisions (31 per cent); being hit by moving objects (18 per cent) and falls from a height (15 per cent). 

A whopping 93 per cent (176 of the 190 fatalities) of workers that were killed were men.

The most dangerous jobs in Australia

Labourers – 29 per cent

Road/rail drivers and machinery operators – 28 per cent

Electricians, bricklayers and painters – 9 per cent

The report also shows both staff and management accounted for the fatalities. 

New South Wales recorded the most deaths (62 per cent), while the ACT recorded just one. 

The report also found 67 members of the public died as a result of actions of a worker. 

There has been an overall reduction of work fatalities which have decreased by almost half from 2007. 

Safework Australia, who published the statistics in their report ‘Work-related Traumatic Injury Fatalities,’ said they hoped the ‘information in the publication [would be used] to raise awareness of work health and safety.’  

‘The vision of Safe Work Australia is Australian workplaces free from injury and disease.’

‘Its mission is to lead and coordinate national efforts to prevent workplace death, injury and disease in Australia,’ they added. 

New South Wales recorded the most deaths (62 per cent), while the ACT recorded just one. The report also found 67 members of the public died as a result of actions of a worker 

New South Wales recorded the most deaths (62 per cent), while the ACT recorded just one. The report also found 67 members of the public died as a result of actions of a worker 

    

  

 

 

 

 

 

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