Key Work Health and Safety Statistics Australia 2025

Safe Work Australia’s Key Work Health and Safety Statistics is a snapshot of WHS in Australia, analysing national safety data on work-related fatalities, injuries, and diseases.

Work-related fatalities and injuries
In 2024, 188 workers lost their lives due to work-related injuries – a slight decrease from the five-year average of 191. The fatality rate fell to 1.3 deaths per 100,000 workers, down 24% since 2014, but remains a serious concern.

Worker fatalities by state/territory, 2024
Queensland recorded the highest number of worker deaths (53), followed by New South Wales (48). The Northern Territory had the highest fatality rate at 2.8 per 100,000 workers, while Western Australia recorded 1.9. Men accounted for 96% of fatalities.

Fatalities by age and mechanism
Workers aged 65 and over faced the highest fatality rate (4.3 per 100,000), and vehicle incidents remained the leading cause, responsible for 42% of worker deaths. Falls from height made up 13% of fatalities.

Fatalities by industry

Work-related harm continues to cluster in a handful of industries. In 2024, 80% of traumatic fatalities and 61% of serious compensation claims occurred in just six industries:

• Transport, postal and warehousing

• Agriculture, forestry and fishing

• Construction

• Public administration and safety

• Manufacturing

• Health care and social assistance

Three industries alone accounted for 72% of all worker fatalities.