NSW pays tribute to individuals who have lost their lives in occupational incidents

NSW pays tribute to individuals who have lost their lives in occupational incidents each 28 April, when the International Day of Mourning is observed across the state. Government leaders, unions and employers pause to remember every worker killed on the job, then recommit to prevention and to the support services offered to those left behind.

The NSW Government observed the International Day of Mourning, extending its heartfelt tributes to those who have passed away as a result of workplace incidents or health issues.

The International Day of Mourning, which occurs on April 28, is a time set aside to pay tribute to those who have died in the workplace.

In 2025, a total of 60 workers died in work-related incidents in NSW.

“Today we remember and honour the dedicated workers of NSW who died on the job or due to a workplace related disease,” Minister of Work Health and Safety, Sophie Cotsis said.

“We express our deepest sympathies and stand with the families, friends, and colleagues who have lost a loved one. We owe it to them to better protect all workers in NSW.

“Today, we reaffirm our commitment to improving workplace health and safety, so that everyone who goes to work returns home safely to their loved ones at the end of the day.”

Read more here.

Why 28 April Is Marked Worldwide

Commemoration of workplace deaths began with Canadian trade unions during the 1980s and now anchors observances in more than 100 countries. Internationally, the date aligns with the World Day for Safety and Health at Work promoted by the International Labour Organization, which pushes prevention ahead of reaction.

Across NSW, remembrance takes practical shape: a minute’s silence, flags lowered at government buildings, and memorial services attended by bereaved relatives, workmates and emergency services personnel. Union-run services often read aloud the names of every worker who died during the preceding twelve months.

Other jurisdictions hold parallel ceremonies. Readers can compare how the ACT pays tribute to fallen workers and how Queensland pays tribute to fallen firefighters.

Which Sectors Carry The Greatest Risk?

Work-related deaths stay concentrated in a small group of high-hazard industries. Road transport, construction, agriculture and manufacturing consistently account for a large share of Australian workplace fatalities, with vehicle collisions the leading mechanism. Reviewing current fatal occupational incidents statistics helps duty holders target controls where harm actually occurs.

Risk profiles worth weighing up:

• Transport and logistics — fatigue, long-haul driving and load handling expose transport workers to severe harm, so documented journey planning and speed management matter.
• Construction — falls from height, mobile plant movements and trench collapse dominate serious event reporting.
• Agriculture — quad bikes, tractor rollovers and livestock handling remain stubborn contributors in regional areas.
• Manufacturing — unguarded machinery, crush points and airborne dust drive both traumatic harm and long-latency disease.
• Public transport and essential services — track work, depot movements and passenger interaction create distinct hazards for transport crews.

Freight and passenger transport operators tightening their controls can begin with our high risk and incidents management plans, which set out notification, isolation and investigation steps in plain language.

Support Services For Relatives, Workmates And Employers

Grief following a workplace death rarely follows a straight line, so practical assistance counts as much as sympathy. NSW coordinates support through counselling, claims guidance and community services delivered by government agencies, unions and not-for-profit providers.

Typical assistance includes:

• Counselling services — trauma-informed practitioners help partners, children and workmates process sudden bereavement.
• Workers compensation claims services — guidance covering entitlements, funeral costs and dependency payments.
• Legal and advocacy services — help interpreting regulator investigations, coronial hearings and prosecutions.
• Peer support networks — bereaved relatives who have travelled the same road offer insight professionals cannot replicate.
• Interpreter services — multilingual assistance so migrant workforces receive equal standards of care.
• Return-to-work services — graduated planning for crews who witnessed a fatal event.
• Mental health support — psychological first aid plus ongoing clinical services for affected teams.

Employers carry obligations as well. Notifying the regulator immediately, preserving the scene and extending prompt support to witnesses all form part of a primary duty of care, alongside pastoral care for wider crews across the months that follow.

Turning Remembrance Into Prevention

Ceremony carries weight only when practice changes. Refreshing hazard registers, consulting workers properly, verifying critical controls and auditing contractor documentation each support measurable reduction of fatal risk. Advisory services published by regulators and industry associations remain free to download.

Documented frameworks make such discipline repeatable. Our integrated OHS and environmental management system gives organisations an editable, standards-aligned starting point rather than a blank page.

Where Can Bereaved Relatives Find Help?

Begin with the workers compensation insurer or an employer’s people team, then approach a union representative or treating practitioner. Independent services remain available at no cost: Lifeline (13 11 14) and Beyond Blue provide 24-hour support, while state services coordinate longer-term care, financial assistance and remembrance programs well beyond 28 April.