Victorians are less likely to die at work but are suffering work-related injuries at an alarming rate, new data shows.
WorkSafe Victoria says young people under the age of 25 are particularly vulnerable to unsafe work practices and overrepresented in accident statistics.
Approximately 49 young people aged 15-24 were injured every week over a 12 month period, equating to 2554 injury claims between April 2015- March 2016.
Workers employed in the construction, retail and hospitality industries are most likely to be injured.
WorkSafe’s Executive Director of Health and Safety, Marnie Williams said in a press release it is ‘critical employers are providing appropriate training, information and advice to young workers’.
In speaking to City Journal News, Keelia Fitzpatrick from Melbourne’s newly established Young Workers Centre added it’s essential to empower young people with work-related knowledge when they start employment at 14 or 15.
“We deliver training, increase work related literacy and encourage young employees to connect with their colleagues and raise problems to the employer as a group,” she said.
The Young Workers Centre offers free, one-off legal assistance to young people with concerns about safety and standards in their workplace.
Ms Fitzpatrick says young workers approach the centre for a variety of reasons, not just after sustaining a physical injury.
“We see, particularly with young women, concerns associated with sexual harassment as well as discrimination and bullying.”
Retail worker Sam*, 22 damaged muscles along her neck and spine when an unfixed railing in an overcrowded storeroom fell on top of her.
Unable to return to work for two months, Sam was covered by WorkCover compensation but the impact of her injury was greater than time off.
She endured months of physio, doctor’s visits and expensive procedures including MRI and CAT scans.
Adding to her frustration was the fact employees had previously raised safety concerns with their manager several times before the incident occurred.
Upon her return to work, Sam was shocked to discover the storeroom was still cluttered and the railing hadn’t been repaired.
“I was so angry. I raised it with the insurance company and WorkSafe and said it’s happened to me but what is it were to fall on someone smaller? It still took five more weeks for them to fix it.”
Sam has since left the company but just last week received a phone call from a MRI clinic chasing up payment for her scans.
“My employer obviously hasn’t taken action to have that account paid and the clinic has had no success in hearing from them. It’s two financial years later, it’s wrong,” she said.
Others are simply unlucky. CBD worker Lauren, 21 always felt safe at work but three weeks ago, she tripped on a flight of stairs, fell and fractured her ankle.
Originally from Adelaide, Lauren lives alone and is independent so an injury affecting her mobility has had a substantial impact on her quality of life.
“It has really taken a toll on me emotionally. It’s hard staying at home on my own and not having communication with anyone. All my friends are at work so it’s frustrating not to be in that environment.”
While the number of injury claims remain a concern, workplace deaths over the past decade have substantially declined.
[infogram id=”2b1ab4c8-4577-46e2-87ff-4289f6142b49″]In 2006, 29 workers were killed on the job in Victoria while last year, 20 lost their lives.
Provision of appropriate training, awareness campaigns, and worksite inspections have helped reduce the number of fatal accidents but those in agriculture, construction and manufacturing industries continue to be at a higher risk.
In February, a man was killed after falling from a temporary work platform on a construction site in Carlton forcing the issue of workplace safety into the spotlight once again.
[infogram id=”f2879193-4517-4cbb-ba12-948696024e52”]Figures also show throughout the past 10 years, men were 16 times more likely to suffer a fatal injury from a workplace accident than women.
WorkSafe’s annual Health and Safety Month starts tomorrow.
*not her real name
