WORKSAFE Victoria says 26 Victorian workers died in the 09/10 financial year due to lapses in workplace safety.
All but one of these workers was male – a female vineyard worker in Woori Yallock died after being struck by a falling branch during heavy storms in June.
Nine of the fatalities occurred in Melbourne, and 17 in regional Victoria.
Regional fatalities included the double fatality of a father and son at Rainbow, who were electrocuted when the windmill they were transporting struck an overhead powerline.
WorkSafe Victoria says the workplace fatality toll for 2009/10 was one lower than the previous financial year, where 27 workplace fatalities were recorded.
According to WorkSafe Victoria, health and safety is a life or death matter, and the majority of deaths and workplace injuries can be predicted and therefore prevented. Complacency and simple mistakes are killing people needlessly.
One third of the workplace fatalities for the 2009/10 year occurred on farms. Of these nine fatalities, five involved tractors.
WorkSafe Victoria says it has launched a campaign of inspector visits to farms across Victoria.
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