Safe Work Australia updates preliminary data on work-related fatalities

Safe Work Australia Updates Preliminary Data on Work-Related Fatalities

Safe Work Australia updates preliminary data on work-related fatalities on a fortnightly basis, giving safety professionals a current picture of workplace risk across the country. This year, 40 workers have tragically died on the job, according to the latest preliminary fatalities data.

Leading the statistics is the transport, postal, and warehousing industry with 19 fatalities, followed by agriculture, forestry, and fishing with 4 fatalities, and construction with 3 deaths.

Breakdown by Industry

• Transport, postal, and warehousing: 19 fatalities
• Agriculture, forestry, and fishing: 4 fatalities
• Construction: 3 deaths
• Unknown category: 8 fatalities

Additionally, 8 fatalities are categorised as unknown. According to Safe Work Australia, the total number of work-related fatalities in 2024 stood at 168, reinforcing why ongoing vigilance around workplace safety remains critical for employers nationwide.

Why This Preliminary Fatalities Dashboard Matters

The preliminary fatalities dashboard gives businesses and safety officers real-time insight into emerging risk trends before the date is updated with confirmed annual figures. Because Australia's work health and safety landscape shifts throughout the year, referring to preliminary data early helps organisations identify high-risk sectors sooner.

Transport, postal, and warehousing operations continue to carry heightened risk, meaning businesses in these fields should review their safety documentation regularly. For construction and agriculture employers, understanding sector-specific risk factors supports better hazard planning.

Staying Informed With Safe Work Australia News

Keeping up with Safe Work Australia news helps safety teams respond quickly to changing fatality trends. Read our related coverage, including Safe Work Australia updates data on work-related fatalities, Safe Work Australia updates work-related fatalities data for 2025, and Safe Work Australia publishes preliminary data on workplace fatalities for 2026 for further context on how these figures evolve year over year.

Businesses seeking to strengthen their own safety practices can also review our range of Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS), including documents tailored for specific high-risk tasks such as our Rigging Safe Work Procedure, Jigsaw Safe Work Method Statement, and Linisher Safe Work Method Statement.

Employers looking to build a stronger safety culture may also find value in our coverage of National Safe Work Month 2023, which highlights initiatives supporting health and wellbeing across Australian industries.

Find out more here.