Vehicle incidents revealed as leading cause of death for Victorian workers

Safety breaches behind the wheel have been revealed as the biggest contributor to workplace deaths in Victoria in the last year.

Vehicle incidents were the leading cause of deaths for Victorian workers last year, with the state’s safety watchdog frustrated by the “same hazards” behind tragic workplace fatalities.

New WorkSafe data revealed the transport industry was the deadliest sector in Victoria last year, tragically losing 12 workers.

Overall vehicle and machinery accidents accounted for nearly half of the 50 worksite deaths in 2024, with 12 people killed in road collisions while eight died after being trapped or struck machinery.

Among them included an 84-year-old fruit grower who died after he fell from his tractor at Red Hill in September and a 28-year-old truck driver who was killed in December while attempting to empty a bin.

WorkSafe executive director of health and safety Sam Jenkin said the tale had become all too familiar at the scene of tragic worksite deaths.

“For too many years we have continued to see workplace harm due to the same hazards in the same industries,” he said.

“It is simply unacceptable lives are still being lost in what are entirely preventable workplace incidents.

“No family should suffer the devastation of losing a loved one at work and we remain unyielding in our commitment to working towards a future of zero workplace deaths.

“We are asking for the support and buy-in of the entire Victorian community, only together can we create safer workplaces that last for generations to come.”

Labouring was the most dangerous occupation last year with 14 work deaths, followed by truck drivers (four) and electricians (three).

Seventeen Victorian workers were also killed from diseases picked up at worksites while two died as a result of work related medical complications.

Of Victoria’s municipalities Greater Dandenong had the most workplace deaths with five last year, followed by Melton with three.

Ballarat also lost two workers to tragic incidents, including Jess Patience — who died after being hit by a blade that dislodged at a Golden Plains Wind Farm in Rokewood — and Kurt Hourigan, 37, who died in the Ballarat Gold Mine collapse in March.

Jess Patience (right) tragically died after he was wind turbine blade at Golden Plains Wind Farm in Rokewood. Picture: Supplied

Kurt Hourigan died last year when the Ballarat Gold Mine collapsed in March. Picture: Supplied

More than half of the people killed in workplace incidents worked for small businesses.

It comes as Victorian businesses forked out more than $13m in fines for safety breaches last year, with more than a third relating to workplace deaths.

Of the total fines nearly $5m and 12 prosecutions imposed by the courts were related to fatalities on the job.

During the 2023/24 financial year WorkSafe recorded 178 prosecutions under the Occupational Health and Safety Act — the most ever — at a success rate of 89 per cent.

Last year WorkSafe accepted more than 25,500 injury compensation claims, with about a quarter going to regional workers.

More than 3,300 claims were mental health related.

Workers from sites in the CBD had the most compensation claims accepted, ahead of those working in Hume, Greater Dandenong and Wyndham.