Four regional workplace deaths in less than a month

WorkSafe Victoria has renewed calls for regional Victorians and workers to pay more attention to workplace safety following four deaths since the start of a major awareness campaign less than a month ago.

The latest fatality was on a farm near Nangiloc in the north-west region of Victoria where an 18-year-old woman was crushed by a four-wheeled farm utility vehicle which overturned. WorkSafe is investigating the incident.

“Of the seven traumatic work-related injuries this year, four have been in the past month and, of these, three were on farms. All but one of the deaths this year have been in regional Victoria,” said Ian Forsyth executive director of health and safety. “Safety's not just about what WorkSafe does. It’s about employers, workers and the wider community taking ownership of it, not just for themselves but the wider community.”

During 2010, 23 Victorians died in traumatic circumstances at work. Twelve of these deaths were in regional Victoria, including seven people working in agriculture. Dozens more received life-threatening injuries and more than 7500 regional Victorians lodge workplace injury insurance claims each year with many more suffering other injuries.