Injuries Plummet to 15 Year Low

New South wales' consultative approach to workplace safety received a ringing endorsement with news that work related fatalities and employment injury rates had fallen to a 15 year low.

"It is a tragic and regrettable fact that fatalities occur, but the trend is down and fewer people are dying in NSW workplaces," NSW Minister for Commerce, John Della Bosca said.

Releasing details of WorkCover's latest Statistical Bulletin, Mr Della Bosca said there were 136 work related deaths in 2002/03 and 51,000 injuries.

"These figures represent 10.8 injuries per million hours worked and 18.5 injuries per 1,000 employees - the lowest levels since the Workers Compensation Scheme started in 1987," said the Minister.

The 2002/03 Statistical Bulletin records significant reductions in the number and cost of injuries over the previous year:

• Compensable fatalities - down 23 percent.

• Fatal injuries occurring at the workplace - down almost 33 percent.

• Fatalities resulting from occupational diseases - down more than 22 percent.

• All injuries occurring at the workplace - down 7 percent.

• Average cost of a workers compensation claim - down almost 13 percent.

"The Government has made a substantial effort to reduce the incidence of accidents and injuries in the State's workplaces by introducing modern, flexible and cooperative safety laws and ensuring that WorkCover has the resources to tackle the problems," Mr Della Bosca said.

"Our State has the best resourced and most active occupational health and safety body in Australia. WorkCover NSW has 301 inspectors with practical experience and technical expertise in a wide range of industries and occupations.

"Our campaigns to improve safety have involved workplace visits, seminars and workshops in locations around the State, and even incentive schemes such as ShearSafety and the Roll-Over Protective Structures (ROPS) rebate scheme," Mr Della Bosca said.

The ShearSafety scheme provided rebates to assist shearers change to a handpiece that is less likely to cause wrist injuries. It also helped woolshed owners to incorporate safe design when upgrading their sheds.

During the ROPS initiative, WorkCover provided $200 rebates to 10,000 NSW farmers at a cost of $2 million.

"There's evidence that this scheme is saving lives in rural NSW," Mr Della Bosca said. "In the four years prior to the commencement of the ROPS rebate scheme, there were six work-related tractor fatalities. In the four years since, there were two.

"The figures are a clear indication that NSW employers and employees are making strong progress towards the Government's target of reducing workplace injury and illness by 20 per cent and fatalities by 10 per cent by 2007.

"These latest figures are extremely encouraging, but we must continue to work hard to further reduce workplace injuries and fatalities.

"The Carr Government will continue its partnership with industry to further reduce the rate of injury and illness in New South Wales, " Mr Della Bosca said.

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Last modified: Tuesday, 15-Nov-2005 20:37:34 EST