The considerably higher number of workers in the Manufacturing industry is the reason why its falls-related fatality rate was similar to the overall industry rate. This is despite recording a similar number of fatalities to both the Transport, postal & warehousing industry and the Agriculture, forestry & fishing industry. Table 3: Worker fatalities involving a fall from height: number and percentage of fatalities and fatality rate (deaths per 100 000 workers) by industry, 2008–11 Industry Number Percentage Fatality Rate Construction 41 37% 1.03 Agriculture, forestry & fishing 12 11% 0.84 Transport, postal & warehousing 12 11% 0.52 Manufacturing 11 10% 0.27 Mining 5 4% 0.72 Retail trade 5 4% 0.10 Administrative & support services 4 4% 0.27 Other services 3 3% 0.16 Professional, scientific & technical services 3 3% 0.09 Electricity, gas, water and waste services 3 3% 0.56 Public administration & safety 3 3% 0.11 Rental, hiring & real estate services 3 3% 0.38 Arts & recreation services 2 2% 0.25 Information media & telecommunications 2 2% 0.23 Accommodation & food services 1 1% 0.03 Wholesale trade 1 1% 0.06 Health care & social assistance 1 1% 0.02 Education & training 0 0% 0.00 Total 112 100% 0.25 A more detailed industry breakdown using the full eight years of the fatalities data series is shown in Table 4. These data show that within the Construction industry the services sector accounted for 64% of the fatalities. The services sectors with the highest number of fatalities due to a fall from height were Painting & decorating services (13 fatalities), Roofing services (9) and Electrical services (6). In addition, 14 workers in the House construction sector died from a fall. Other sectors with high numbers of fatalities due to falls were Fabricated metal product manufacturing (9), Horse & dog racing activities (9), Road freight transport (8), Non-residential building construction (8), Beef cattle farming (7) and Grain-sheep or grain-beef cattle farming (6). Table 4: Worker fatalities involving a fall from height: number and percentage by industry, 2003–04 to 2010–11 combined Industry division, sub-division and group No. of fatalities % of total Construction 86 37% Construction services 55 23% Painting & decorating services 13 6%
Table 9: Worker fatalities involving a fall from height: proportion by age group within selected origins of fall, 2003–04 to 2010–11 combined Age group (years) Origin of fall 15–24 25–34 35–44 45–54 55–64 65 & over Total Ladder 3% 0% 11% 16% 22% 49% 100% Vehicle 0% 12% 12% 23% 27% 27% 100% Roof 4% 8% 12% 24% 32% 20% 100% Horse 33% 19% 10% 10% 24% 5% 100% Building under construction 10% 15% 5% 25% 40% 5% 100% Platform 0% 11% 21% 21% 32% 16% 100% All origins 6% 14% 16% 19% 27% 18% 100% Table 10 shows what were the key origins of the fall for the industries with the highest numbers of fatalities. Within the Construction industry there were four main objects or structures from which the worker fell. Falls from ladders and buildings under construction accounted for 21% of the fatalities in the Construction industry each followed by falls from platforms (19%) and falls from roofs 17%. Table 10: Worker fatalities involving a fall from height: proportion by industry and origin of fall, 2003–04 to 2010–11 combined Industry/ Origin of fall Number of fatalities % of industry % of all fatalities Construction 86 37% Ladder 18 21% 8% Building under construction 18 21% 8% Platform 16 19% 7% Roof 15 17% 6% Pit/hole 3 3% 1% Hoist 3 3% 1% Agriculture, forestry & fishing 31 13% Horse 11 35% 5% Vehicle 6 19% 3% Boat 6 19% 3% Manufacturing 20 9% Ladder 4 19% 2% Forklift 3 14% 1% Transport, postal & warehousing 20 9% Vehicle 9 45% 4% Boat 3 15% 1% Administrative & support services 12 5% Ladder 3 25% 1% Arts & recreation services 11 5% Horse 9 82% 4% Mining 10 4% Pit/hole 6 60% 3% Other industries 42 18% Ladder 9 21% 4% Roof 7 17% 3% Vehicle 5 12% 2% Total 232 100%
Lower leg 4% 4% 4% 3% 3% 4% Hand, fingers & thumb 4% 5% 3% 2% 2% 3% Head 6% 6% 7% 5% 5% 3% Elbow 2% 4% 2% 2% 4% 3% Other locations 11% 16% 18% 17% 15% 18% Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% Breakdown agency by industry Table 28 shows the number of serious claims in the 2009–11 period for the most prevalent industries and breakdown agencies involved. These data show that falls from ladders were the most common type of fall in the Construction and Retail trade industries while falls from trucks were the most common in the Transport & storage industry and falls from horses the most common in the Agriculture, forestry & fishing industry. The Manufacturing industry did not have a dominant type of fall. Table 28: Serious claims due to falls from a height: number and percentage by industry and breakdown agency, 2009–11 Industry & Breakdown Agency No. of claims % of claims in industry % of all falls claims Construction 5,120 21% Ladders 1,470 29% 6% Buildings & other structures 710 14% 3% Scaffolding 480 9% 2% Trucks, semi-trailers, lorries 360 7% 1% Steps & stairways 305 6% 1% Holes in the ground 265 5% 1% Manufacturing 2,860 11% Ladders 505 18% 2% Steps & stairways 455 16% 2% Trucks, semi-trailers, lorries 345 12% 1% Buildings & other structures 200 7% 1% Forklift trucks 110 4% 0% Transport & storage 2,725 11% Trucks, semi-trailers, lorries 1,110 41% 4% Steps & stairways 245 9% 1% Ladders 125 5% 1% Buildings & other structures 120 4% 0% Retail trade 1,895 8% Ladders 510 27% 2% Steps & stairways 355 19% 1% Trucks, semi-trailers, lorries 180 9% 1% Buildings & other structures 165 9% 1% Property & business services 2,010 8% Steps & stairways 460 23% 2% Ladders 275 14% 1% Buildings & other structures 240 12% 1% Trucks, semi-trailers, lorries 180 9% 1% Agriculture, forestry & fishing 1,295 5% Horses, donkeys, mules 325 25% 1% Ladders 180 14% 1%
Dislocation 3% 3% 2% 3% 3% Other injuries & diseases 5% 4% 5% 4% 5% Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% Falls from Ladders In the three years 2009–11 there were 3830 serious claims due to a fall from a Ladder. This is equivalent to 3 injuries each day requiring the worker to be away from work for one or more weeks. Table 31 shows the key characteristics of the employees who most commonly lodged claims due to a fall from a Ladder. These data indicate that falls from ladders most often involved Electrical & electronics or Structural construction tradespersons working in the Installation trade services or Building completion industries. Their falls most often resulted in a sprain or strain of the knee, ankle or lower back, or a fracture of the wrist or knee. Table 31: Serious claims due to falls from ladders: number and percentage by selected characteristics, 2009–11 Characteristic No. of claims % of claims involving ladders Occupation group Electrical & electronics tradespersons 440 12% Structural construction tradespersons 430 11% Sales assistants 215 6% Plumbers 185 5% Final finishes construction tradespersons 175 5% Mining, construction & related labourers 145 4% Agricultural & horticultural labourers 130 3% Cleaners 125 3% Industry group Installation trade services 575 15% Building completion services 340 9% Building construction 300 8% Cleaning & other business services 180 5% Clothing & soft good retailing 125 3% Horticulture & fruit growing 110 3% Nature of injury Sprains & strains of joints & adjacent muscles 1 455 38% Fractures 1 230 32% Contusion & crushing injury 365 10% Diseases of the musculoskeletal system 215 6% Open wound 190 5% Bodily location Back 510 13% Knee 480 13% Ankle 465 12% Wrist 380 10% Shoulder 310 8% Number of serious claims due to falls from ladders 3 830