WHS Statistics Australia: What does the latest data show?
Safe Work Australia
Safe Work Australia is an Australian government statutory agency that develops national policies to improve work health and safety (WHS) and workers’ compensation arrangements.
They periodically publish data and insights into workplace safety incidents and compensation claims across Australia.
Key WHS Statistics 2022
The most recent WHS statistics published by Safe Work Australia include preliminary serious claims data for the period 2020-2021.
The data highlights the true cost of a workplace safety incident for an organization, suggesting the median compensation paid per serious WHS claim was $15,072.
In total, for 2020-2021, there were 130,195 serious claims Australia-wide. Of these claims:
- Workers aged 35-39 had the lowest claim rate;
- Workers aged 60-64 had the highest claim rate;
- Labourers were the occupation with the highest percentage of claims (26%);
- 37% of claims were caused by body stress;
- 40% of claims were for traumatic joints/ligament and muscle/tendon injury;
- 9% of all serious claims (12,155) were for mental health-related conditions; and,
- The median compensation paid for a mental health-related claim was $55,270.
WHS Statistics: What does the data show?
The key takeaway from the above insights is that a large portion of injury claims in the workplace could probably have been avoided with improved safety procedures and worker participation.
Whether it is educating workers on the correct way to lift heavy boxes or providing the required tools and equipment needed to safely perform a task, engaging workers and prioritising their safety is critical to avoiding any workplace injury.
With the cost of a mental health-related injury claim being over 3 x the cost of a serious injury-related claim, the data also highlights the importance of promoting mentally healthy workplaces that protect the mental well-being of workers.
ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety
Being compliant with and certified to ISO 45001 puts your organisation at the forefront of safety management.
ISO 45001 lays out a framework to improve safety, minimise workplace risks and enhance health and well-being at work, enabling an organisation to improve its Occupational Health and Safety performance. It provides the minimum standard of practice to protect employees around the world.
ISO 45001 assists organisations with putting in place an occupational health and safety (OH&S) management system. This will help them manage their OH&S risks and maximise their OH&S performance by implementing effective policies.
Workplace Safety Consulting
QSM Group specialises in workplace safety consulting, safety audits, and ISO 45001 compliance and certification.
Contact us today and arrange a complimentary consultation and workplace inspection to explore how we can help your organisation achieve its OH&S goals.
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