The end of the year is especially busy and stressful for your staff
More workers die in employment-related deaths in the months of October and November than at any other time of the year, a new study showed.
The combined number of workplace deaths in Australia in 2016 and 2017 revealed an upward trend in fatalities toward the end of the year, according to SafeWork Australia.
A total of 48 workers died in October and 46 in November. The figures are more than double the number of fatalities recorded in September, which saw a total of 22 deaths.
The most common causes of death included vehicular accidents, falling from a height, being struck by a moving or falling object, being trapped by moving machinery, or contact with electricity.
SafetyCulture CEO Luke Anear believes the end of the year is often busy and stressful for workers. Accidents on the job may be due to employees experiencing higher levels of fatigue as they wrap up year-end reports or attend year-end meetings.
Some employees may also be rushing their tasks to go on holiday, while others who attend year-end parties may be consuming higher amounts of alcohol.
October, incidentally, is National Safe Work month in Australia. Over the past few weeks, a Senate Committee has been proposing to criminalise negligent organisations for workplace deaths under new industrial manslaughter laws.
There have been about 100 workplace deaths in Australia this year.
