Despite relatively few hours worked compared to many other industries, the agriculture, forestry and fishing industry has the highest number of work-related fatalities.
Between the period 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2024, the fatality frequency rate of the agriculture, forestry and fishing industry was double that of the next highest industry, being transport, postal and warehousing. The fatality rate in farming is also more than 7 times higher than the average rate across all industries.
During this same period, 88% of agriculture, forestry and fishing industry work-related fatalities occurred in the agriculture sector.
Agriculture, forestry and fishing work-related traumatic injury fatalities during this time included:
- a tree feller fatally injured when he was struck by a tree branch
- a farmer’s existing medical condition was fatally aggravated after being kicked by an animal
- a farmer tragically died after experiencing a severe allergic reaction to multiple bee stings while working
- a farmer was fatally injured after being thrown from a quad bike
- 3 workers lost their lives when the fishing vessel they were working on board sank
- a farmer suffered fatal injuries after being caught in the wool press machine he was operating
- a farm worker was fatally injured when they became trapped between a chaser bin and the auger chute
- a farmer was fatally injured when they were struck by a tractor while carrying out dredging activities
- a worker on the roof of a shed fell during extreme wind conditions
- a farm hand was fatally injured when caught up in a harvesting attachment on a tractor
- a farmer was fatally injured because of a fire while crop harvesting
- 2 helicopter pilots mustering cattle were involved in a mid-air collision.
The State of the work environment: Work-related traumatic injury fatalities in Western Australia report was produced to promote awareness of work health and safety in Western Australia. With both workers and bystanders considered for analysis, the report analyses data on traumatic injury fatalities in WA which have been determined by the Department to be work-related fatalities.
A key finding of report revealed that the occupations with the highest number of work-related fatalities and highest frequency rate were in agriculture, forestry and fishing. This is despite a relatively small workforce in farming compared to many other industries. The report also found the leading common cause of fatalities in the farming sector was being hit by a tractor, and that 35% of work-related fatalities were in persons aged 65 years and older.
| Mechanism of incident subgroup (Action, exposure or event) | Number of fatalities |
|---|---|
| Vehicle incidents | 12 |
| Being hit by moving objects | 8 |
| Being hit by falling objects | 4 |
| Being trapped by moving machinery or equipment | 4 |