Work deaths fall, but not enough

More than 230 compensation cases for workplace-related deaths are being settled in Australia each year, according to the latest figures.

Victoria had 41 cases in 2005-06, says the OHS Comparative Performance Monitoring Report.

This comprised 36 cases involving injury and musculoskeletal disorders and five disease-related.

The total number of Victorian cases fell from 65 in 2001-02, the report said.

The national total fell from 316 to 231 over the four-year period.

The report revealed:

More than 114,000 workplace inspections were done nationally in 2005-06.

At least 900 prosecutions were started and about $23 million in fines were handed out by courts.

Compensation schemes spent more than $5.7 billion, with about half paid directly to injured workers.

Releasing the report, Workplace Relations Minister Julia Gillard said the results were positive.

"However, more needs to be done under the national OHS strategy to ensure safer workplaces in Australia," she said.

The report was prepared for the Workplace Relations Ministers' Council.

John Manuskas, heraldsun.com.au