As work health and safety has evolved, so have workplace deaths. So what is the state of work health and safety in Australia today? There has been a significant increase in workplace deaths since 1999 although there were some improvements as well.
Workplace deaths have increased significantly since 1999 (from 1876 to 2256), and there have been some improvements in the way that workplaces are run. But there is still a long way to go before Australia is considered a safe place for its employees.
The first step in preventing workplace fatalities is having a thorough understanding of all hazards in the workplace. This includes both physical and non-physical threats, as well as emotional and mental stressors. It also includes identifying how these factors affect people differently—for example, how they respond differently to stress or emotional pressure from their jobs.
The biggest change in workplace safety has been the shift from manual handling to mechanised equipment. This has enabled workers to be more efficient, but it also means that they are at greater risk of injury when using machines with sharp edges or moving parts.
A second major change is that there are now more industries using robots than ever before. Robots can be programmed to perform tasks safely, but they are not always aware of their surroundings or able to detect hazards effectively. In this way, robots can make workplaces safer—but they may also pose new challenges for workers who must interact with them on a regular basis.
There have also been improvements in technology such as cell phones and computers which allow workers to stay connected while they’re working outside of the office environment. This means that they can receive information quickly about any potential hazards that might occur during their shift or during travel home from work afterwards.”
