Work Death in Victoria,1987–1990: An Overview

Abstract

This investigation describes the level and nature of work-related traumatic work deaths which occurred in Victoria in 1987–90. There were a total of 353 such deaths reported to the coroner in this period. While a large number of these deaths involved farmers or self-employed workers, a majority were found to involve work in the context of a company. Further, most of these company work deaths involved some amount of negligence on the part of the employer. In all, there were prosecutions in only 34 of the 353 fatalities, all of which resulted in convictions. Despite the fact that at least 25 of these deaths could be seen as resulting from extreme employer negligence, and that at least four of the negligent companies were repeat offenders, there were no prosecutions of either individuals or companies under provisions of the Crimes Act (all convictions were obtained for breaches of occupational health and safety regulations). There is in these data, then, further evidence of a ‘gentle’ posture on the part of regulatory agencies.