Data reveals 157 Aussies left for work in 2019 and never came home

There were 157 Australians who left for work last year and never came home, according to the latest preliminary government data.

The 2019 fatality statistics obtained by nine.com.au reveal worker deaths rose slightly last year compared to 2018, when 144 people were fatally injured at work.

Aussies employed in the transport, postal and warehousing industry face the greatest risks, with 55 deaths in this sector accounting for nearly a third of all workplace fatalities.

There were 31 workers killed in the agriculture, forestry and fishing industry and 24 construction fatalities.

Government agency Safe Work Australia (SWA) told nine.com.au the preliminary dataset was subject to revision, and covered deaths through to December 19.

Workers in mining, manufacturing, electricity, gas, water and waste services also recorded higher fatalities than most professions.

A separate SWA report last week revealed 107,000 Aussies had been seriously incapacitated in the 2017/18 financial year, needing at least one week away from their jobs.

The three most common reasons were stresses on the body, falls and trips and getting hit by a falling object.

Labourers, community and personal service workers and machinery drivers and operators filed the most number of claims.

Industries proportionally most prone to serious claims were agriculture, forestry and fishing, manufacturing and transport, postal and warehouse workers.

Top 10 worker deaths by industry of workplace, 2019

(Preliminary data, as at 19 December 2019)

Transport, postal & warehousing: 55 deaths

Agriculture, forestry & fishing: 31  

Construction: 24          

Mining: 9            

Public administration & safety: 9

Manufacturing: 7

Electricity, gas, water & waste services: 6

Other services: 6

Arts & recreation services: 4

Wholesale trade: 2

Professional, scientific & technical services: 2