WORKSAFE Victoria has reminded Victorians that workplace tragedy doesn’t discriminate after releasing its workplace death and injury claim tallies for 2024. WorkSafe recorded 50 lives lost at workplaces across the state throughout the year with more than 25,500 workers being accepted for injury compensation claims. There were five fatalities recorded in the Hume region, including two in the Moira Shire, two in the Mitchell shire and one in Wodonga. The region accepted the most injury work claims across regional Victoria with 1328 claims, down on 2023’s figure of 1546. While no deaths occurred in the Alpine Shire, it recorded the fourth most injury claims for compensation in the Ovens and Murray region with 77. Within the Ovens and Murray area encompassing shires in Wangaratta, Alpine, Benalla, Indigo, Mansfield, Towong and Wodonga, 654 injury claims were made in 2024, down 79 on the year prior. WorkSafe executive director health and safety, Sam Jenkin, said the toll highlighted the fact any workplace was susceptible to a tragedy, so it was essential for employers and workers to stay vigilant. “Victoria is among the safest places to work in the world but it is simply unacceptable lives are still being lost in what are entirely preventable workplace incidents,” Mr Jenkin said. “No family should suffer the devastation of losing a loved one at work and we remain unyielding in our commitment to working towards a future of zero workplace deaths.” “For too many years we have continued to see workplace harm due to the same hazards in the same industries, which is why WorkSafe has set ambitious targets to challenge the status quo. “We are asking for the support and buy-in of the entire Victorian community – only together can we create safer workplaces that last for generations to come.”
