Northern Territory’s most dangerous industries revealed

FISHING, forestry and agriculture are the most dangerous industries in the Northern Territory, new data has shown

Skipper Richard 'Sam' Samuel has worked on boats since he was 8 years old. He currently owns a commercial fishing boat in Darwin. Picture: Keri Megelus

FISHING, forestry and agriculture are the most dangerous industries in the Northern Territory, new data has shown.

According to a finder.com.au analysis of Safe Work Australia data, the majority of Northern Territory workplace fatalities (23) since 2007 have taken place in these three sectors.

The data also revealed there had been five workplace fatalities in the NT in 2016, comparatively low against the 53 fatalities in New South Wales.

NT WorkSafe communications manager Peter Chan said of the five fatalities recorded in the NT in 2016, three were a result of a motor vehicle incident, one was the result of a light aircraft crash and another the result of a fall from height.

“finder.com.au’s ‘most dangerous industries’ are already listed as priority industries in the Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012-2022,” Mr Chan said.

Darwin fisherman Richard “Sam” Samuel has been working in the industry since 1971 and agreed it could be a dangerous occupation to have.

“Quite often fisherman are out of sight from the general public and are more inclined to take risks because no one is watching,” he said.

“Each fishery has its own particular risks as well, so the risks I face as a fisherman for Spanish mackerel are different to those if I were a prawn fisherman.”

Mr Samuel has also worked for work safe and marine safety regulators over the years and believes safety has improved significantly.

“The fishing industry is very well regulated now and the occupational health and safety laws that have been introduced in the last 10 years have really reduced the number of fatalities and accidents,” he said.

“There is a recognised safety culture among fishermen now and it’s a good thing to see the industry becoming safer.”

finder.com.au’s Safe Work Australia research examined compensation claims and fatalities by industry to find that agriculture, forestry and fishing saw 44 fatalities and 3510 serious injuries across the country in 2016.