One-third of Victoria’s workplace deaths in 2022 occurred regionally

The latest WorkSafe statistics show the most dangerous occupations in regional Victoria based on more than two-dozen workplace fatalities across a single year.

More than a third of workplace fatalities in 2022 occurred in regional Victoria, the latest data show.

Statistics from WorkSafe indicate that of the 61 workplace fatalities across the state last year, 26 occurred outside metropolitan Melbourne: the Hume and Loddon Mallee regions lost six workers each, Barwon South West and the Grampians lost five, and Gippsland had four workplace deaths over 12 months.

Nine of those regional deaths occurred in what WorkSafe categorised the transport, postal, and warehousing industries, followed by agriculture, forestry, and fishing, in which six regional workers died.

Mining, public administration, and health care each suffered the loss of two regional workers.

The most frequent cause of death was a vehicle accident: there were 16 such fatalities regionally, eight times more than the next most-common cause.

Statewide statistics point to truck driving as the most dangerous occupation.

Men made up more than 90 per cent of deaths, and overall, almost two-thirds of fatalities were of people aged 55 or older.

Nevertheless, the total number of Victorian workplace deaths decreased by 18 in 2022 compared with the previous year.

As for workplace injury claims, slightly less than 30 per cent of a total exceeding 24,000 were made in regional Victoria.

WorkSafe CEO Colin Radford said the data should prompt Victorians to consider in their own workplaces.

“Both employers and workers should understand that there is no such thing as unavoidable

workplace harm,” he said.

“Every single work-related death and injury in 2022 could have been prevented, along with

the pain and suffering endured by the families, friends, and colleagues of those impacted.”

WorkSafe prosecuted 123 companies and directors for breaches of workplace health and safety laws last year, resulting in court-imposed fines totalling $5.59 million.