These are the five sectors Victoria will target over the next year

In August, WorkSafe Victoria announced the five sectors it will target over the next year — sectors that collectively account for almost 60% of work-related deaths and accepted workplace injury claims in the past five years.

The sectors are:

• health care and social assistance;
• construction;
• government;
• agriculture; and
• manufacturing.
   

The targeting of these sectors comes as part of a plan to achieve significant five-year targets outlined in the five-year WorkSafe Victoria Strategy — targets that include reducing fatalities by 30% and injuries by 20%.

“The safety of workers in workplaces is our highest priority, so it makes sense that we focus resources on the sectors where the greatest harm is happening and the hazards causing it,” WorkSafe Victoria Chief Health and Safety Officer Sam Jenkin said.

“We have carefully identified areas where the rate of injuries or fatalities is highest, relative to the size of the industry, and mapped out a path to enable, motivate, influence and enforce better performance and compliance,” Jenkin added.

Targeted visits and assessment programs, as well as education, awareness-building and collaborative initiatives to influence change, are among the tools WorkSafe Victoria said it will continue to use to improve safety across priority areas — with Jenkin noting that other industries would not miss out either (not avoiding scrutiny or support and advice).

“Holding employers to account is a key part of our strategy and WorkSafe won’t hesitate to use every regulatory tool available against employers who fail to protect workers — including potential criminal charges,” Jenkin said.

“But a big part of our role is about making sure all duty holders are supported to understand their obligations, and have the information, education and systems to make a difference.” 

A Statement of Regulatory Intent 2025–26 was developed by WorkSafe Victoria in close work with stakeholders, to provide a transparent and accessible view of key priorities for the 2025–26 financial year. WorkSafe Victoria said it will also focus on key hazards causing the most physical and psychological harm across all industries, in addition to target sectors.

These key hazards include:

• falls from height;
• occupational violence and aggression;
• hazardous manual handling;
• bullying and harassment;
• occupational illness and disease;
• loading and unloading; and
• mobile plant.
   

“WorkSafe has set ambitious prevention targets for the next five years — but we know we can’t influence change and improve safety on our own,” Jenkin said.

“That’s why we’ll continue consulting with stakeholders and working closely with industry to ensure that not only is every employer aware of their duties, but they understand why and how to prioritise safety,” Jenkin added.

You can read Victoria’s Statement of Regulatory Intent 2025–26 here, via the SafeWork Victoria website.

Image credit: iStock.com/skynesher. Stock image used is for illustrative purposes only.