Michaela Meade
WorkSafe is calling on Victorians to prioritise their health and safety at work following the deaths of 65 workers in 2020.
WorkSafe chief executive Colin Radford said every death was a tragedy for families, workplaces and the surrounding communities.
“These are not numbers or statistics,” he said.
“They are loved members of our families and communities.
“Mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, siblings, colleagues and team mates, who died as a result of a workplace incident that should have been avoided.”
Mr Radford said there was “no excuse” for shortcuts in the workplace and for failing to make health and safety the first priority.
“Victorian employers and workers – all of us – can and must do more to reduce the number of workplace deaths.”
The total toll for 2020 workplace deaths includes 29 workers who died in a Victorian workplace incident and 20 who died in work-related road incidents.
Mr Radford said the work-related road deaths were a “sobering reminder” of employers’ duty of care to their workers, regardless of where they are.
“It doesn’t matter if workers are on a construction site, at the farm, in an office or on the road – health and safety should travel with them wherever they are working,” he said.
“Employers must ensure they implement systems of work to manage fatigue, ensure drivers are properly trained and licensed, and that vehicles are maintained in a safe condition.”
The most dangerous industry in the state was found to be the public administration and safety industry, with 12 deaths last year.
Manufacturing and transport, postal and warehousing, agriculture, forestry and fishing, and construction were other dangerous industries identified.
