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WorkSafe operational priority statistics summary

WorkSafe Operations Directorate routinely identifies a number of priority areas across industries, which are targeted for enforcement and compliance activities in order to reduce the occurrence of work-related injuries and promote safe work practices. The high-risk nature of the work in these areas means that they are likely to have a higher incidence of work-related injury and disease. 

Priority areas address particular occupational health and safety issues. Selection takes into account workers compensation claim figures and work-related fatality data collected by WorkSafe. There are limitations associated with use of claim data; however the inability to justify or verify priority area selection using claim-based statistics does not exclude the choice of an area. Although there are some exclusions from claim-based data, such as cases for self-employed people, overall it provides the best indicators of OSH status available. Claim figures may also support the assessment of the effectiveness of efforts made in a particular area. 

Claim data for lost time injuries and diseases (LTI/Ds) assist decision making when determining an overall approach. This approach may incorporate one or more of the following goals from a statistical point of view:

  • reduction in numbers of LTI/Ds and fatalities 
  • reduction in incidence rates 
  • reduction in frequency rates 
  • reduction in duration and severity (frequency of long duration LTI/Ds) 
  • reduction in worker's compensation premiums.

Priority areas are currently:

The following sections provide a brief overview of statistics and general information for each priority. Data on fatigue is not available.

Electricity

  • In the five years from 2004/05 to 2008/09 electricity has been the cause of 8 work-related deaths, an average of almost two deaths per year.
  • A total of 169 LTI/Ds were recorded during the five year period from 2003/04 to 2007/08 (preliminary). LTI/D levels in WA have risen above the five year average (34) during 2006/07 and 2007/08p recording 35 and 39 incidents respectively.
  • Of the 169 LTI/Ds, 84% (or 142) resulted in electrocution or shock from electric currents, 15 resulted in burns.
  • Many electric shocks are not reported, but are potentially fatal. 
  • Electricians and other tradespeople incur the majority of electricity-related injuries, however Personal Care and Nursing Assistants have also had time off work due to contact with electricity. 
  • Power lines, lighting equipment and electrical installation cause a significant number of electrical injuries and burns.

Fall from heights

  • On average there are at least three deaths per year due to falls from height.
  • 7% of all LTI/Ds involve falls from heights, about 1,295 LTI/Ds each year. 
  • Incidences have increased 27% during the five year period from 2003/04 to 2007/08p.
  • On average, each injury involving a fall from a height results in about 90 days off work. In 2007/08p the total number of days lost increased by a factor of five compared to 2003/04 levels.
  • The most common types of injury resulting from work at heights are sprains and strains (accounts for almost half of these injuries), fractures, and bruising and crushing injuries excluding those with fracture (in order of magnitude). 
  • Typical incidences in this category are workers falling down indoor steps or stairways, from trucks, semi-trailers, lorries and from ladders (in order of magnitude) in a variety of occupations. Falls from equestrian animals also account for many lost time injuries.
  • Ankle and knees tend to be the areas of the body most affected by falls from heights (17% and 15% respectively).

Slips and trips (falls on the same level) 

  • The most common cause of injury after muscular stress while handling in 2007/08p and accounts for a total of 172,236 days lost from work. 
  • On average 2,331 LTI/Ds result from falls on the same level each year. This equates to an average of 69 days lost from work per LTI/D.
  • During the five year period from 2003/04 to 2007/08p, 7% (or 780) of LTI/Ds for falls on the same level required one week off work. 
  • In 2007/08p 76% of LTI/Ds for falls on the same level, resulted in one week’s absence (five days) from work.
  • Industries that experience a high proportion of slips and trips are Health and Community Services, Manufacturing and the Retail Trade (in order of magnitude). 
  • Slips and trips were the most common cause of injury to Personal Care and Nursing Assistants in 2006/07 (117 LTI/Ds). In 2007/08p Cleaners (118 LTI/Ds) head the list, followed by Sales Assistants (105).
  • Sprains and strains are responsible for more than half (58.7%) of all injuries resulting from slips and trips during 2003/04 to 2007/08p.
  • Typical agencies of injuries include slipping on indoor wet/oily surfaces, steps or stairways and tripping on uneven surfaces.

Manual handling (or body stressing)

  • Manual Handling is the most common cause of injury in workplaces across Australia.
  • Muscular stress while handling and lifting are the two most common causes of injury in WA (during the period 2003/04 to 2007/08p).
  • On average there are 2,732 lifting injuries and 3,208 handling injuries each year. 
  • More than a third of all LTI/Ds in 2007/08p (37.2%) were attributable to manual handling (or body stressing group).
  • In 2007/08p, 29% of LTI/Ds in this group resulted in 60 days or more lost from work – equating to a total of 515,093 days lost.
  • There have been no fatalities directly attributable to lifting; however it is possible that lifting/manual handling is a contributing factor in many incidents and fatalities. 
  • The Manufacturing and Health and Community industries account for the largest proportion of these types of injuries.
  • Lifting patients in hospitals and nursing homes is a common cause of lifting injuries, while lifting boxes, crates and bags are common causes of injury across all industries.
  • The lower back and shoulders are the areas of the body most affected by these types of injuries.

Mobile plant

  • Examples of mobile plant include forklifts, harvesting machines and earthmoving equipment.
  • About 12 fatalities are associated with mobile plant during the period 2004/05 to 2008/09.
  • Mobile plant incidents account for around 852 lost time injuries in Western Australia each year – LTI/Ds for 2007/08p is above the five year average (922). 
  • The number of LTI/Ds and total days lost involving mobile plant have increased 11.6% and 45.4% respectively during 2007/08p compared to 2003/04.
  • 37% of cases in 2007/08p are a result of muscular stress while handling, being hit by moving objects accounting for 12%.
  • Of the mobile plant incidences reported in 2007-08p, 28% (or 258) resulted in 60 days or more absence from work.
  • The lower back, fingers and shoulder are the most prevalent areas of the body that incur injuries involving mobile plant (in order of magnitude).

Machine guarding

  • Each year there are about 491 LTI/Ds resulting from being trapped by moving machinery or equipment. 
  • Injuries have fallen 28 per cent during 2007/08 (preliminary) compared to 2003/04.
  • Powered saws, other and unspecified production line type of plant or stand alone machinery and abrasive and cutting equipment are the most common causes of injuries from being trapped by moving machinery or equipment. 
  • There have been five fatalities resulting from being trapped by moving machinery or equipment, one fatality was directly attributable to inadequate guarding during the period 2004/05 to 2008/09. In relation to the other cases, death was not necessarily due to lack of guarding to the machines involved. 

Hazardous substances

  • On average there are 340 lost time injuries or diseases related to chemical exposure or contact each year. 
  • 335 incidences occurred in 2007/08p equating to 7,167 days lost from work.
  • 6% of incidences in 2007/08p resulted in 60 days or more lost from work.
  • LTI/Ds for long term contact with chemicals or substances have significantly reduced over the five year period (2003/04 to 2007/08p). Despite a reduction in LTI/Ds for single contact with chemical or substance during 2007/08p (244) compared to 2006/07 (289); numbers remain above the five year average (236).
  • Glues, dyes, detergents, metal and plastic materials (such as foam) are common causes of lost time injuries or diseases. 
  • Burns, dermatitis and the effects of inhalation are typical outcomes of contact with chemicals. 
  • The eyes, hands and respiratory system are the parts of the body most affected by hazardous substances.
  • Diseases related to hazardous substances may have a long latency period and may not become evident until after a worker leaves the workforce. 
  • Preventive health surveillance and air monitoring work reduces the likelihood of workers developing diseases.

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