Which Occupation Is Australia’s Most Deadly?

“Kill me now,” is an oft-repeated phrase in stressful workplaces — but which occupation is actually the most likely to cause fatal injury? Here’s a list of the most deadly industries in Australia between 2012 and 2013. If your job is near the top, it might be time for a career change…

Dirty morgue feet picture from Shutterstock

A new study by Worksafe WA has discovered that between 2008 and 2013, one Western Australia worker has died every 21 days on average. Naturally, this is partly due to the large number of mining and agriculture jobs in the region, although when it comes to workplace fatalities, neither of these occupations are the top killers in Australia. That “honour” falls on the Transport, postal and warehousing industry, which has recorded nearly 100 deaths since January 2012.

Below is a Safe Work Australia table of worker fatalities in 2013 to date, divided into industry of workplace. The total currently stands at 97.

Year-to-date worker deaths by industry of workplace (2012 + 2013):

As you can see, despite its reputation, mining only appears halfway down the list (below public administration & safety, ironically).

Other occupations that are curiously high-ranked this year include arts & recreation (six deaths) and retail (four deaths). Of course, it’s worth noting that the results do not factor in the number of employees in each industry sector which obviously has an effect on probability.

What’s the worst workplace injury you’ve ever suffered? Let us know in the comments section below.


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