Workers’ comp claims show we have a safer workplace but depression and cancer are on the rise.

Workers are being injured less and fewer are dying on the job, but new figures show illnesses such as cancer and depression are on the rise.

The Compendium of Workers’ Compensation Statistics Australia 2005-06, released last week, tracks the numbers and types of workers’ comp claims across Australia.
Australian Safety and Compensation Council chairman Bill Scales says while overall claims have fallen in the past 10 years, those related to respiratory diseases, mental disorders and cancers are increasing.

Costs are rising too, with the average claim payout now $6000 for 3.8 weeks off work, up from the 2000-01 costs of $5400 and 3.6 weeks off work. “Most serious workers’ compensation claims lasted a relatively short period. With just over half of employees who lodged a claim being back at work within four weeks, and three-quarters away from work under three months,” Scales says.

“We can see through findings in the Compendium that notable improvements are being made in some areas and industries. However, more can be done to improve safety at work and reduce work-related death, injury and disease. There is no better time than the present to focus on workplace safety and make safety in the workplace a priority.”

Any death at work is unacceptable. However, the figures show work is getting safer. In 2005-06, 231 people died at work and their families received compensation through the scheme. That’s a drop on the 254 fatalities in 2004-05. This follows the trend downward in compensated deaths at work, dropping by nearly 100 deaths since the 1997-98 tally of 352. In 1997-98, mining was the most risky industry to work in when considering the number of deaths per 100,000 employees. That industry has reduced fatalities from 23 deaths per 100,000 employees to five deaths.

Claims for serious injuries or illnesses are also decreasing. Mining has reduced its serious claim load per 1000 employees from 43.5 in 1997-98 to 23.9. Construction dropped its 36.5 per 1000 workers to 27.1. Manufacturing and transport and storage industries reduced their 35.6 per 1000 worker claim rate to about 30.

Labourers and related workers, intermediate production and transport workers were most likely to be injured or become ill.

The largest numbers of claims were attributed to manual handling, or body stress, involving lifting and carrying. The second most common injury was “falls on the same level”. Most injuries were sprains and strains.

National Safe Work Australia Week, October 19-25