A deadly place to work
THE Territory’s most dangerous industries have been revealed, with new data showing the NT has the highest rate of workplace fatalities in the country.
In 2018, there were 953 serious workers compensation claims made in the Territory and 14 fatalities were reported to NT WorkSafe.
The majority of the 21 workplace deaths recorded from 2013-2017 took place in the transport, postal and warehousing industries with eight deaths seen across the sectors.
The agriculture, forestry and fishing industries accounted for four fatalities during the same time period.
Deaths in agriculture, forestry and fishing have risen across Australia by 18 per cent year-on-year.
Among those deaths, investigators found six were the result of a medical condition.
There were seven workplace fatalities in the NT in 2017 alone, according to a finder.com.au analysis of Safe Work Australia data.
While less than the 62 workplace deaths in NSW, the NT still had the highest fatality rate in the country at 5.1 deaths per 100,000 workers – more than three times the national average.
The ACT fatality rate was 0.4 and Victoria’s was 1.1 per 100,000 workers.
Insights manager at finder.com.au Graham Cooke, said 3604 Australians have lost their lives on the job since 2003.
“Territory workers face a higher fatality rate than other states, and has for the last three years,” Mr Cooke said.
“This is a sombre reminder that death can happen on the job to almost anyone.”
The new data comes as a long review into NT WorkSafe and the Territory’s workplace safety policies is expected to be publicly released this week in the wake of a spate of horrific industrial accidents.
Derick Suratin, 34, was electrocuted in Tennant Creek last week while conducting roofing work and just days earlier, a 31-year-old man suffered serious injuries when a 1.5 tonne electrical switchboard fell on him at Palmerston.
OPINION: P12 * Data from 2017