Many injuries can occur after workplace accidents. According to Safe Work Australia these injury statistics are presented as an annual report. Accordingly, the incidence rate of serious injury per 1 million hours worked in Australia is 5,7. Also, according to the same report, there are 114,435 serious injury claims.
What are the 5 Most Common Workplace Accidents in Australia?
The most common workplace accidents occurring in Australia are muscle strains when lifting or holding objects, falls at work, mental stress, general muscle stress, and injuries because of falling objects in the workplace.
- Muscle strains when lifting or holding objects
This type of injury is by far the most common injury in Australia as past reports will show. In fact, it is seen in the 2015 reports that the ratio of this type of injury among the total injuries is 40%.
The way to prevent or at least reduce this is to train personnel. This type of injury will be further reduced if they know ways to avoid muscle stress while working.
- Falls at work
Fall accidents are one of the most common accidents in the workplace. The way to prevent this is to have appropriate training and safety equipment. In addition, inspections to be made at the workplace will help to minimise fall accidents.
- Mental stress
The most common causes of the type of injury referred to as mental stress are workplace bullying, overwork and the pressure workers feel on them. To prevent this, some arrangements can be made in the workplace, such as break times and regular staff meetings.
- General muscle stress
Even in desk jobs that employees see as risk-free, workers can be injured. For example, carpal tunnel syndrome may occur because of repeating the same movements every day. The most effective way to prevent this is to make suggestions by qualified supervisors to minimise the risk of general muscle stress, together with an ergonomic working environment.
- Injuries because of falling objects in the workplace
Injuries from falling objects are the cause of less than 5% of serious workplace injuries. But it is the second most common cause of death in workplace accidents. For this reason, it is one of the most important types of injury that safety precautions should be taken.
In order not to be exposed to this injury, it is necessary not to neglect the safety equipment and to strictly follow the procedures to be applied.
Can you get compensation if you have an accident at work in Australia?
Yes, you may be eligible for compensation if you have an accident at work in Australia. Workers’ compensation aims to support you in workplace accidents. It is a form of insurance that aims to restore you to your pre-accident condition in case you get injured or ill while in employment.
Compensation may include loss of earnings, costs for treatment of injury or illness, payments such as return to work benefits.
Wherever you have been injured, if you need support regarding the legal process, workers’ compensation lawyers will assist you. Carrying out many legal processes such as the severity of your injury, the types of compensation you can claim and the amount of these, the steps to be taken, together with lawyers will help you get through the difficult process more easily.
Acceptance and Denial Rates of Compensation After Work Accidents in Australia
According to a report published in 2020 in the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, approximately 560,000 people suffered a work-related injury or illness in 2017-2018.
53% of the injured received some form of financial assistance. Of those who received financial assistance, 52% received workers’ compensation.
The rate of those who did not receive compensation despite applying is 3%. The remaining 45% did not even apply for workers’ compensation.
When the injured workers were asked why they did not apply for workers’ compensation, they answered that they did not see the need to deal with compensation because their injuries were minor, or they knew that their injuries would not be considered suitable for compensation.
Some of those who did not apply for workers compensation stated that they did not know that they had such a right.