Deaths Hit Low On Eve Of Safety Meet

NSW work-related deaths and injuries have dropped to their lowest levels since 1987 new figures show ahead of this week’s Workplace Safety Summit in Orange.

Two hundred and fifty representatives of business, unions, government and occupational health and safety experts are gathering to work on ways to further reduce injuries and fatalities.

"One death in the workplace is one too many, but the good news is that fatalities and injuries are continuing to decline," says NSW Minister for Commerce, John Della Bosca. "The incidence of workplace injuries has been reducing for the past 10 years, and is now at its lowest rate of 13.6 injuries per 1,000 employees."

The Minister said time lost due to work-related injuries had also dropped by
nine per cent over the previous year.

Of the 132 work-related fatalities reported last year, 39 resulted from workplace injuries and 27 from occupational diseases, while 40 ­ the largest number ­ occurred as people travelled to and from work.

"The most effective way to reduce the physical and financial costs of workplace injury is to avoid them entirely ­ and this data shows NSW employers and employees understand that safety message and are putting it into practice," says Della Bosca.

The NSW Workplace Safety Summit will take place on 25-26 August 2005 at the
Orange Ex-Services Club.

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Last modified: Tuesday, 15-Nov-2005 20:37:36 EST