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OHS-WHS
But there’s a flip side. Under some conditions, work
is a major risk factor for poor health, disability and
even death.
So far this year, for instance, 48 Australians have been
killed while at work. In 2014, there were 185 workplace
deaths from traumatic injury. And the latest Australian
Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data show there were over
half a million workplace injuries in 2013/14. That’s one
person hurt while working every minute.
(see Workplace deaths in Australia below)
Globally, the International Labour Organisation
estimates that one worker dies and a further 153 have
accidents at work every 15 minutes. That equates to 2.3
million deaths and 313 million accidents every year.
The economic costs of this are enormous, equalling
about 4% of global gross domestic product (GDP). The
human costs are even higher, especially when you take
into account the impact that death or serious injury can
have on family, friends and work colleagues.
All kinds of hurt
Some common work-related conditions are among
the top five leading causes of disability in Australia.
These include low back pain, musculoskeletal disorders
and neck pain. Among working-aged people, these
conditions are associated with the greatest burden of
disability, higher than levels of other common health
conditions such as cancer, diabetes, mental health
conditions, cardiovascular or respiratory diseases.
Workplace deaths in Australia
The number of work related traumatic injury fatalities, 2003-2014
311
300
284
259
284
282
257
258
228
224
228
200
191
185
2013
2014
100
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
As of April 24, 2015: 44 Australian workers have been killed while at work in 2015
GOVLINK » ISSUE 3 2016
Source: Safe Work Australia Get the data