Site Information and assistance

Infographic: Fatalities, injuries and solutions in construction

Click to zoom infographic

Share this media

Because of the high levels of death and injury to construction workers the Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012–2022 focuses on the this industry as a national priority.

Topics

Other formats

Useful resources

Some solutions

Data from the infographic

Construction fatalities

A total of 182 construction workers were killed in the five years from 2008–09 to 2012–13

Industry Sub-sector Number of workers killed
Construction services 123
Heavy and civil engineering construction 30
Building construction 29

The most common mechanisms that caused fatalities were:

  • Falls from heights
  • Vehicle incidents
  • Being hit by moving or falling objects
  • Contact with electricity

Construction serious injuries

A total of 63,230 serious injuries were reported in the five years from 2008–9 to 2012–13. The most common types of injury were:

  • Joint/ligament, muscle/tendon
  • Fractures
  • Wounds, lacerations, amputations, internal organ damage

The following table shows the main causes of serious injuries

Cause of injury Number of serious injuries
Body stressing 23 340
Slips, trips and falls 17 660
Hit by moving objects 10 660
Hitting objects with part of the body 6310

Falls from heights fatalities

A total of 48 construction workers were killed by falls from heights in the five years from 2008-9 to 2012-13. The most at risk construction occupations for falls from heights fatalities were:

  • Painting and decorating
  • Roofing
  • Plumbing
  • Housing construction

The following table shows the main types of falls and numbers of workers killed:

Industry Sub-sector Number of workers killed
Falls from buildings or other structures 20
Falls from ladders 12
Falls from scaffolding 5
18 Aug 2016 |  Video

Becoming a mentally healthy small business

A frank discussion on the challenges faced by many small businesses and sole traders and how these may affect their mental health and that of their workers.
29 Aug 2016 |  Video

Benefits of planning and scheduling in house construction

This time-lapse video of the construction of a double storey home shows how good planning and using the right equipment can improve productivity and safety on site.
18 Aug 2016 |  Video

Safe work design in construction's complex supply chains

Three leading experts will explore how the safe design of construction projects can protect the health and safety of workers – not just while they are being built, but throughout the project’s life cycle.
29 Aug 2016 |  Video

Dangers of diesel exhaust fumes for business

This webinar will show you where there may be diesel exhaust hazards in your workplace, how you can evaluate the risk of exposure and how you can reduce the risk of exposure.
29 Aug 2016 |  Video

Driving good work – the role of the accidental design professional

Many people who don’t typically see themselves as work designers actually have a powerful influence on work safety, from CEOs, to IT professionals to HR executives.
29 Aug 2016 |  Video

Effective load restraint

This webinar discusses how to effectively restrain loads on heavy vehicles to protect the safety of workers and the users of public roads.
18 Aug 2016 |  Video

Effective return to work coordination: options and best practice

This video provides practical guidance on return to work practice that benefits both workers and business.
18 Aug 2016 |  Video

Elevating road safety to a corporate and community priority

When WorleyParsons identified road transport as the most critical health and safety risk for its employees, it made road safety a priority and took action.
29 Aug 2016 |  Video

Full circle: A work health and safety evolution

A very personal story about life after a serious workplace injury and how one organisation changed its own work safety culture.
29 Aug 2016 |  Video

Good work design and applying it to psychosocial risks

Employers in any industry can use the principles of good work design to protect workers’ psychological and physical health.
29 Aug 2016 |  Video

Case study: Good work through effective design

This video shows how the ten principles of good work design can be applied in practice, using real-life industry case studies to improve the health and safety of workers and overall business performance.
29 Aug 2016 |  Video

Good work through effective leadership

Leaders at all levels have a critical role to play in building a positive safe work culture, influencing safety improvements, and designing safe, healthy and productive work.
18 Aug 2016 |  Video

The business case for creating a mentally healthy workplace

This brief video provides some compelling evidence to demonstrate that creating a mentally healthy workplace is good for business.
29 Aug 2016 |  Video

Improving the risk management of musculoskeletal disorders

Dr Jodi Oakman from La Trobe University discusses the causes of musculoskeletal disorders and examines what this means for managing musculoskeletal risks in workplaces.
Infographic

Infographic: Fatalities, injuries and solutions in construction

1 Sep 2016
This infographic shows research and data about the most common causes of death and serious injury in the construction industry.
Download Infographic: Fatalities, injuries and solutions in construction as a pdf (120.18 KB)Download Infographic: Fatalities, injuries and solutions in construction as a jpg (711.84 KB)
Infographic

Infographic: Hotspots in the construction industry

1 Sep 2016
WorkSafe Victoria's Injury Hotspots interactive tool provides an industry-wide snapshot of how people get injured at work, pinpointing areas on the body that are most likely to be injured.
Infographic

Infographic: Manufacturing industry – fatalities, injuries and solutions

1 Sep 2016
This infographic provides information about the causes of the high number of worker fatalities and injuries in the manufacturing industry.
Download Infographic: Manufacturing industry – fatalities, injuries and solutions as a pdf (164.35 KB)Download Infographic: Manufacturing industry – fatalities, injuries and solutions as a jpg (548.1 KB)
Infographic

Infographic: Work-related mental disorders infographic

1 Sep 2016
This infographic shows clearly the size of the problem of work-related mental disorders, and common causes.
Download Infographic: Work-related mental disorders infographic as a pdf (98.03 KB)Download Infographic: Work-related mental disorders infographic as a jpg (662.77 KB)
29 Aug 2016 |  Video

Designing safe machinery

Experts from SafeWork NSW, the Australian National University, and Work Systems Technology discuss the importance of eliminating hazards and risks from machinery before it enters the workplace.
18 Aug 2016 |  Video

Minimising musculoskeletal disorders

Featuring a hospital, a fine art restoration service, and an artisan bakery, this video demonstrates a risk management approach to preventing musculoskeletal injuries in the workplace.
18 Aug 2016 |  Video

Networking your work health and safety priorities with Better Work Tasmania

The Better Work Tasmania website provides a range of information, resources and advice that businesses across Australia will find useful.
29 Aug 2016 |  Video

Not a croc – safety in the crocodile industry

Featuring the crocodile business in the Northern Territory, this seminar shows the innovative techniques used to reduce the risk from the hazards unique to this industry.
29 Aug 2016 |  Video

Safe fleets are better business

Investing in a safer vehicle fleet for your business offers a good return on investment, provides greater security for employees, and makes a safer society for everyone.
18 Aug 2016 |  Video

Safe, healthy and productive: Keynote address by Ann Sherry AO

Ann Sherry explains how managing work health and safety is not a box-ticking bureaucratic exercise that detracts from the real work of getting the job done.
29 Aug 2016 |  Video

The agile leader – engaging with risk

Safe Work Australia’s CEO Michelle Baxter discusses the need build a workforce of workers, leaders and decision-makers who have the knowledge and the skills to effectively and efficiently manage risk.
18 Aug 2016 |  Video

The challenges and opportunities of championing work health and safety in supply chains

Leaders from the Bureau of Meteorology describe how they meet their WHS obligations toward workers across their local and global supply chains.
29 Aug 2016 |  Video

The power of cooperation – supply chains and workers’ health and safety

Experts from the ACTU, UNSW and News Corp Australia explore how consultation and cooperation in supply chain networks can be used to improve workers’ health and safety.
18 Aug 2016 |  Video

The right start: building safe work for young workers

Supervisors and managers of young workers have the greatest influence on their attitude to work safety.
18 Aug 2016 |  Video

Protecting the voids in house construction

One worker paid a serious penalty when he fell through a gap, or ‘void’, on a construction site. This video reminds us of the hazards and gives some simple steps to control them.
29 Aug 2016 |  Video

What small business wants

This video from SafeWork NSW shows that reducing the amount of time small business owners spend trying to understand their WHS obligations saves time and increases compliance.
29 Aug 2016 |  Video

Work health – influencing the supply chain through partnerships

In an industry case study, a small construction and manufacturing business describes how they applied work health and wellbeing strategies to benefit their business.
29 Aug 2016 |  Video

Working safely with chemicals

Chemicals are present in most workplaces and this video explains the importance of controlling chemical hazards, irrespective of the type of the chemicals or their toxicity.
4 Jul 2018 |  Video

Preventing illness and disease in tunnel construction workers

Occupational Hygienist Kate Cole highlights international best practice in preventing illness and disease and practical steps to improve work health and safety in tunnelling projects.
11 Jul 2018 |  Video

Collaborating with industry to tackle silica dust exposure

Keith Bannerman from the Australasian Tunnelling Society presents some key issues facing the industry, and working together to address the challenge of silica dust control.
27 Jun 2018 |  Video

Controlling silica in the infrastructure sector

Daniel Beavon provides an overview of SafeWork NSW’s current strategy targeting silica control in the infrastructure sector and the activities which support that strategy.
23 Aug 2017 |  Video

Safe use of power tools

Roof tilers use power tools on a daily basis, but no amount of practice can replace following principles of safe use from the get-go.
21 Aug 2017 |  Video

Working at heights

Working at heights is one of the highest risk activities across the industry. Think smart before you start.
16 Aug 2017 |  Video

Safe use of ladders

While using a ladder can seem intuitive, there are some key points to remember before using it, to ensure your safety and in the event of a fall.
14 Aug 2017 |  Video

No place for drugs and alcohol

Working under the influence of drugs and alcohol puts you and everyone around you at risk.
9 Aug 2017 |  Video

Safety rules for using power tools

Nick, a leading hand carpenter, knows first-hand the risks that can arise when using power tools and appliances.
7 Aug 2017 |  Video

Electrical safety: protecting you and your workmates

Matt, a fourth year electrical apprentice, takes a minute to share what he’s learnt about staying safe around electricity.
3 Aug 2017 |  Video

Don’t ignore an exclusion zone

Josh, a civil plant operator, takes a break from his duties to talk about the importance of paying close attention to exclusion zones while working on a construction site.
Infographic

Infographic: Serious claims for tradies

1 Aug 2017
This infographic demonstrates the high incidence rate of serious claims in trade occupations compared to other jobs.
Download Infographic: Serious claims for tradies as a pdf (86.28 KB)Download Infographic: Serious claims for tradies as a jpg (97.01 KB)
27 Apr 2017 |  Video

Jason’s story – a young life lost

A confronting and honest look into the heartache of losing a son and mate to a preventable workplace incident.
Infographic

World Day – serious claims in the workplace

17 Jul 2017
Serious injuries are an ongoing issue in the workplace. They can impose devastating impacts on workers and sometimes preclude them from ever re-entering the workforce. This infographic highlights some of the effects serious injuries have on workers.
Download World Day – serious claims in the workplace as a pdf (469.73 KB)Download World Day – serious claims in the workplace as a jpg (164.3 KB)
Infographic

Worker memorial – workplace fatalities

11 Apr 2017
The workplace fatality rate dropped by 44% between 2007 and 2015. Let's make sure this trend continues.
Download Worker memorial – workplace fatalities as a pdf (501.02 KB)Download Worker memorial – workplace fatalities as a jpg (1.14 MB)
10 Mar 2017 |  Video

A healthy and safe workplace starts with leadership

This video showcases four companies that, in addition to managing work-related health risks, have developed wellbeing programs that support workers to make healthier choices.
6 Dec 2017 |  Video

Work-related traumatic injury fatalities 2016

In this broadcast, Kris Garred, Director of Evidence at Safe Work Australia, discusses the Work-related traumatic injury fatalities 2016 report, the statistics within it and the powerful role this data can have on improving safety in Australian workplaces.
Infographic

Infographic: Workplace mental health

22 Jan 2019
Providing a mentally healthy workplace not only protects workers from psychological harm, it positively enhances their mental health and can improve business productivity.
Download Infographic: Workplace mental health as a pdf (690.71 KB)Download Infographic: Workplace mental health as a jpg (1.47 MB)
Infographic

Infographic: Children’s safety in the workplace

26 Oct 2017
Children and young people in the workplace are especially vulnerable when it comes to safety; when they enter a workplace a person conducting a business or undertaking is responsible.
Download Infographic: Children’s safety in the workplace as a pdf (545.33 KB)Download Infographic: Children’s safety in the workplace as a jpg (2.39 MB)
Infographic

Infographic: First responder fatalities and injuries

12 Sep 2017
Emergency services workers operate in challenging environments, dealing with violence, distress and often death. Since 2003 that work environment has claimed the life of 47 first responders.
Download Infographic: First responder fatalities and injuries as a pdf (148.49 KB)Download Infographic: First responder fatalities and injuries as a jpg (1.76 MB)
Infographic

Infographic: Fatalities and injuries in the road transport industry

17 Jul 2017
This infographic is based on the latest data from worker fatalities and workers' compensation claims, and includes statistics on the nature, circumstances and main causes of injuries and fatalities in this industry.
Download Infographic: Fatalities and injuries in the road transport industry as a pdf (538.42 KB)Download Infographic: Fatalities and injuries in the road transport industry as a jpg (1.92 MB)
Infographic

Infographic: serious claims in healthcare

2 May 2017
Each week, the healthcare and social assistance industry experiences an average of 362 serious injury and disease claims, with most injured workers suffering injuries to the back or upper limbs. This infographic looks at the key factors attributed to serious claims by healthcare professionals, so that we can focus on how to reduce these statistics.
Download Infographic: serious claims in healthcare as a pdf (433.31 KB)Download Infographic: serious claims in healthcare as a jpg (1.32 MB)
Infographic

Infographic: Workers’ compensation claims in 2014-15

31 Mar 2017
This infographic provides an overview of key statistics from the Australian Workers' Compensation Statistics 2014-15. This infographic provides an overview of key statistics from the Australian Workers' Compensation Statistics 2014-15 report.
Download Infographic: Workers’ compensation claims in 2014-15 as a pdf (96.03 KB)Download Infographic: Workers’ compensation claims in 2014-15 as a jpg (1.43 MB)
Infographic

Infographic: Workplace bullying and violence

8 Apr 2017
Presenting some of the key data on bullying and violence in Australian workplaces, this infographic demonstrates the connection between harassment, bullying and violence and work-related mental disorders.
Download Infographic: Workplace bullying and violence as a pdf (227.93 KB)Download Infographic: Workplace bullying and violence as a jpg (546.86 KB)
Infographic

Infographic: Thoughts about workplace safety

1 Sep 2016
The information used in this infographic is based on data collected from the 2012 Work Health and Safety Perceptions Survey.
Download Infographic: Thoughts about workplace safety as a pdf (578.17 KB)Download Infographic: Thoughts about workplace safety as a jpg (395.28 KB)
Infographic

Infographic: Road transport data - the big picture

1 Sep 2016
The transport industry recorded the second highest number of work-related fatalities of all industries.
Download Infographic: Road transport data - the big picture as a pdf (74.27 KB)Download Infographic: Road transport data - the big picture as a jpg (257.91 KB)
Infographic

Infographic: Agriculture fatality and injury data

1 Sep 2016
The combination of hazards including remote and isolated work, makes agriculture one of the most dangerous industries in which to work.
Download Infographic: Agriculture fatality and injury data as a pdf (578.45 KB)Download Infographic: Agriculture fatality and injury data as a jpg (1.54 MB)

This site is undergoing constant refinement. If you have noticed something that needs attention or have ideas for the site please let us know.

Last modified on Friday 25 January 2019 [461|86476]