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December 2014

Construction sector leads injury claims

02 Dec 2014, Industry Updates

Construction workers lodged more ACC claims than those working in any other industry; figures that support Worksafe’s continued focus on improving health and safety practices across the sector

Provisional figures for 2013 show that, while the incidence rate of claims across all sectors has fallen every year since 2002, the construction industry continues to be one of the worst affected.

Last year, ACC received 28,900 claims – the highest in the country – from individuals ‘who stated that the main type of activity their employer carried out was in construction’. Manufacturing accounted for the next-highest number of claims, with 27,500, followed by agriculture, forestry and fishing combined with 25,300.

However, these figures are skewed by the higher number of people employed within construction. The numbers are slightly more favourable when looking at the incidence rate – claims made per 1,000 full-time employees (FTE). Construction rounds out the three worst industries, with 172 claims, behind arts and recreation services with 186 and agriculture, forestry and fishing with 206.

WorkSafe NZ’s bid to reduce ACC claims

“These statistics emphasize the importance of WorkSafe NZ’s renewed health and safety focus on the country’s worksites,” said Marcus Nalter, manager of Worksafe NZ’s construction and manufacturing programme.

WorkSafe has launched several best practice guideline documents over the past two years, including the preventing falls from height bulletin, which is being enforced on construction sites across the country.

The latest guidance released focuses on plant and machinery operation, which also affects the construction industry. When looking at the number of ACC claims by occupation, rather than by industry, Statistics NZ’s figures show that plant and machinery operators and assemblers have the third-highest number at 25,200. The highest number of claims was made by trade workers (35,500), followed by agriculture and fishery workers (31,200).

The safe use of machinery guidance, which has been developed with industry input and is targeted at SMEs, is now available in print and online.

“Identification of anything in a workplace that could injure or harm someone is the important first step here. It is the first thing our inspectors pay attention to when they visit a workplace,” said Mr Nalter.

“All machinery needs to be adequately guarded and safely operated at all times. Businesses need to make
a determined and constant effort to find reasonable and practicable solutions to protect staff and operators.”

 

ACC incidences decrease overall

Since 2002, the national incidence rate across all industries has fallen from 127 claims per 1,000 FTE to 92. In total, 182,900 work-related injury claims were made in 2013; 63 for fatal injuries.

The incidence rates in Auckland, Waikato, Wellington and Canterbury (the four largest regions) has also consistently fallen since 2002, except for a small increase in Canterbury in 2011 after the February earthquake.

Northland, Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay and Bay of Plenty had the highest rates out of the regions, with 130 claims per 1,000 FTE; 127 and 125 respectively.

Wellington had the lowest incidence rate, with 55 claims, followed by Auckland with 80.


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