Transporters making up to 1,000 injury claims a year and the figures haven’t changed much in the last three years
Ruza Zivkusic-Aftasi | June 25, 2012
The most common injury claim among women in the transport industry is mental health; with men it is being hit by moving vehicles, WorkSafe says.
WorkSafe Corporate Strategy Director Robin Trotter, who addressed the Transport Women Australia’s conference in Melbourne, says up to 1,000 claims are being made each year by transport operators, with slips and falls topping the list.
“There are low numbers of injuries for women in transport because there actually are relatively small numbers of women in the industry that probably count for that,” Trotter says.
“Women clearly look safer in terms of the industry than male counterparts and they have very much to learn from you.
“Despite an industry that is trying very hard to improve safety, the numbers are still too high and they haven’t changed much for the last three years.”
Women aged in their 40s are most at risk of sustaining injury, including those who work at different workplaces, according to WorkSafe’s figures.
“They were facing risks in relation to roads when they’re out there with other road users. People in the industry who are doing the job face a significant number of risks that occur in the course of a day,” Trotter says.
“We’re in a situation with the industry where there are a number of barriers and solutions that we need to find creative and innovative approaches to if we’re going to significantly change the injury rate we have at the moment.
“We don’t think it’s acceptable that there should be an excess of 1,000 claims for you in this industry.
“We are looking to reduce that number by drawing on experience because it is not about a regulator or inspector who comes along and holds all of the expertise around how to improve workplace safety. That knowledge is in people in your industry working with others.”
