The latest edition of Safe Work Australia’s Comparative Performance Monitoring report shows modest improvement in some safety stakes.

Stats show work-related compensated injury fatalities are at their lowest level since 2002, but authorities say there are still plenty of things to fix.

The report (available here in PDF form) provides trend analyses on the work health and safety and workers’ compensation schemes operating in Australia and New Zealand.

It shows that in 2012-13, 11 out of every 1000 workers were injured seriously enough to require one week or more off work.

There has been a 26 per cent improvement in this trend since 2002, and the target of a 40 per cent reduction in the rate of injuries by 2012 was achieved.

Michelle Baxter, acting CEO of Safe Work Australia, says there is still room for improvement.

“Over a decade ago Australia set a national target of reducing the incidence rate of compensated injury and musculoskeletal disorder fatalities by 20 per cent by 2012. This report shows that as a nation we not only achieved, but surpassed this target, with a 41 per cent reduction in fatalities,” she said.

“While this is a good result, there were still 178 compensated injury and disease fatalities recorded in Australia for 2012–13. More work is needed to improve work health and safety and reduce this figure even further.”

“To continue to see a decrease in injury and disease in the workplace we must stay committed to work health and safety and set high targets to ensure safer workplaces for all Australians,” said Ms Baxter.

“It is through raising awareness of work health and safety and encouraging workers to speak up about hazards that these figures will continue to drop. Safe Work Australia Month is the perfect opportunity to do this.”