The most common injuries were sprains and strains of joint and adjacent muscles comprising a staggering 41% of all serious claims. The hazard of sustaining a workplace injury strain is echoed in the Workcover NSW Slips, Trips and Falls campaign currently being run to reduce injuries and raise awareness of risks. The latest statistics show that there were 25,000 injuries as a result of slips, trips and falls in New South Wales representing 18% of the total 140,000 workers compensation claims made in the State. Injuries included under the slips, trips and falls banner include workers falling from a height or falling over on the same level as well as a worker stepping, kneeling or sitting on an object that may cause injury.

Male workers continue to be more at risk of suffering a workplace injury accounting for 68% of all serious workers’ compensation claims. The construction industry remained the industry with the highest number of fatalities followed by the transport and storage industry where the majority of fatalities were in road freight transport. The most common cause of workplace fatalities was motor vehicle accidents resulting in a third of the workplace fatalities recorded.

Identification of the construction industry as an industry high in workplace fatalities and injuries echoes the identification under the National Occupational Health & Safety Strategy 2002-2012 of six industries to be given priority in identifying prevention activities to reduce their incidence of work-related injury and disease. The identification of these industries was based on the following statistics:

1. The Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Industry employ 357,000 people representing 3% of the Australian workforce. For the year 2006 to 2007 there were 4265 claims made for workers compensation accounting for 4% of all serious workers’ compensation claims.


2. The Construction Industry employs 936,000 people representing 9% of the Australian workforce. For the year 2006-2007 there were 14,130 claims for workers compensation accounting for 11% of all serious workers’ compensation claims. Muscular stress was the biggest area of injury with 35% of claims for compensation relating to muscular stress.


3. Health and Community Services Industry employs 1,078,000 people representing 10% of the Australian workforce. For the year 2006-2007 there were 16,030 claims for workers compensation accounting for 12% of all serious workers’ compensation claims.


4. Manufacturing Industry employs 1,064,000 people representing 10% of the Australian workforce. For the year 2006-2007 there were 26,700 claims for workers compensation accounting for 20% of all serious workers compensation claims.


5. Mining Industry employs 136,000 people representing 1% of the Australian workforce. For the year 2006-2007 there were 2,450 claims for workers compensation accounting for 2% of all serious workers compensation claims.


6. Transport and Storage Industry employs 471,000 people representing 5% of the Australian workforce. For the year 2006-2007 there were 10,770 claims for workers compensation accounting for 8% of all serious workers compensation claims.

At Walker Legal we keep up-to-date on what’s happening in the work place injury area. Our qualified Compensation Lawyers are proficient with the intricacies of Workcover NSW and can act with knowledge and expertise for people injured at work or those who have lost loved ones from workplace injuries. Call us to today on 1800 445 537.