What 2025 Work Health and Safety Statistics Reveal About Australian Workplaces

Safe Work Australia’s 2025 Work Health and Safety Statistics report provides an important overview of the current state of workplace health and safety across the nation. It highlights the progress that has been made in reducing fatality rates and injury incidence, while also drawing attention to emerging challenges. Particularly notable is the rise in mental health-related claims and the concentration of serious injuries within a few key mechanisms and industries. Understanding these trends is imperative for organisations, as they reveal where risk remains high and where preventative action is most needed. By examining these findings, businesses can better prioritise resources, strengthen their WHS systems, and foster a safer work environment.

Key Insights from the 2025 Work Health and Safety Statistics 

According to the 2025, 188 Australian workers lost their lives due to traumatic injuries. The current work-related injury rate has dropped to 3.5%, around one third of the global average rate of 12.1%. This data reflects a sustained long-term downward trend, which may be attributed to enhancements in safety culture, comprehensive safety systems and growing awareness. During 2023-24, Australian workers lodged 146,700 serious compensation claims, each involving at least one week away from work and averaging around 400 serious claims every day.

Fatalities at Work 

Australia continues to make progress in improving workplace safety; however, the latest figures serve as a reminder of the risks many workers still face. In 2024, there were 1.3 deaths per 100,000 workers, a 24% decline in fatality rates since 2014. Of the 188 worker fatalities, there were 180 men and 8 women that lost their lives. The highest proportions of fatalities occurred among workers aged 25–34 and 55–64 and 52% of these fatalities were of workers aged over 45. The state and territory that recorded the highest number of fatalities across Australia was Queensland, followed by New South Wales. The Northern Territory had the highest fatality rate, followed by Western Australia.

The most common mechanism of these fatalities were:

1. Vehicle incidents (42%).
2. Falls from a height (13%).
3. Being hit by moving objects (9%).
4. Being hit by falling objects (7%).
5. Being trapped by moving machinery or equipment (5%).
6. Being trapped between stationary and moving objects (5%).
7. All other mechanisms (20%).

Over this period, there was at least one vehicle involved in 66% of worker fatalities. The age group that reported the highest number of fatalities which involved at least one vehicle was people aged under 25.

Serious Workers’ Compensation Claims

In 2024, Australian workers lodged 146,000 serious compensation claims, with an average payout of $16,300. Each claim involved at least one week away from work, with a median time loss of 7.4 weeks.

What’s particularly notable is that the number of serious claims has risen by 34.5% since 2014, highlighting an ongoing need for stronger injury prevention and early intervention strategies.

The data reveals that:

• Men accounted for 58% of serious claims.
• Women made up 42% but were more likely to lodge claims for mental health conditions and musculoskeletal issues.
• Men recorded more claims for traumatic injuries, including fractures, lacerations, and muscle or ligament damage.
• Workers aged 45-54 recorded the highest number of serious claims.
• The 25-44 age group reported the lowest rate.

Nature & Mechanism of Injury and Illness

The most common serious workers’ compensation claims in 2024 were linked to the following injury and disease types:

1. Traumatic joint, ligament and muscle/tendon injuries.
2. Musculoskeletal and connective tissue diseases.
3. Wounds, lacerations, amputations, and internal organ damage.
4. Mental health conditions.

There were significantly more traumatic joint/ligament and muscle/tendon injuries than any other type of serious claim reported. These injuries resulted in a median time loss of 7.4 weeks and an average compensation payout of $15,900, highlighting their significant impact on both workers and workplaces.

Mental health conditions

Mental health conditions are now among the costliest and fastest-growing challenges for workplaces. Mental health condition claims increased by 14.7% over the past year, accounting for 12% of all serious claims. A total of 17,600 serious claims were lodged, with an average time lost of 35.7 weeks and an average compensation payment of $67,400.

Mechanism of incident

In 2024, 83.5% of serious claims were concentrated within four of the ten major Mechanism of Incident categories. They include:

1. Body stressing (34.5%).
2. Falls, trips and slips of a person (21.8%).
3. Being hit by moving objects (16%).
4. Mental stress (11.5%).

The other serious claims by mechanism major groups include:

• Hitting objects with a part of the body.
• Vehicle incidents and other.
• Biological factors.
• Heat, electricity and other environmental factors.
• Chemicals and other substances.
• Sound and pressure

Industry and Occupational Focus 

When it comes to workplace safety, certain jobs and industries continue to carry higher risks than others. The 2024 data reveals where most work-related fatalities and serious claims occurred.

The highest number of work-related fatalities were recorded among the following occupations:

1. Machinery operators and drivers (61).
2. Labourers (50).
3. Managers (28).
4. Technicians and trades workers (28).
5. Professionals (10).

The highest number of work-related fatalities were recorded among:

1. Machinery operators and drivers (61).
2. Labourers (50).
3. Managers (28).
4. Technicians and trades workers (28).
5. Professionals (10)

The industries with the highest number of work-related fatalities were:

1. Transport, postal and warehousing (54).
2. Agriculture, forestry and fishing (44).
3. Construction (37).
4. Mining (10).
5. Public administration and safety (8).

In 2024, the industries with the highest share of serious claims were:

1. Healthcare and social assistance (19.9%).
2. Construction (12%).
3. Manufacturing (10.1%).
4. Public administration and safety (9.2%).
5. Education and training (7.6%).

What Employers and PCBU’s can do

The findings from SafeWork Australia’s ‘Health and Safety Statistics Australia 2025’ highlight the ongoing need for organisations to strengthen their commitment to work health and safety. Employers should focus on improving hazard identification and control measures in high-risk industries and mechanisms. As mental health conditions continue to rise, investing in proactive wellbeing initiatives is essential to support workers and reduce long-term claims. Safety programs should also be tailored to the unique needs of each workforce. Finally, fostering a culture of reporting and early intervention can help prevent minor issues from becoming serious injuries, or psychological claims, protecting not only the worker but the organisation’s performance.