Truck-related incidents account for a third of all workplace deaths, and older workers are over-represented in the number of fatalities on agricultural properties.

Analyses by the Federal agency Safe Work Australia also estimate that work-related injury, illness and disease cost more than $60 billion a year.

Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten says the Government will make the transport, construction and agriculture industries priority areas for action under the new work health and safety strategy for the next decade, which is due for release later this year.

The House of Representatives is currently debating the Road Safety Remuneration Bill, and Mr Shorten says safe rates for truck drivers will improve road safety.

“This year the Government is launching the new national work health and safety strategy that will provide action areas to focus our efforts on and targets to reduce the number of Australians who suffer from work-related injury, illness and disease each year,” he said.

“Together with the new harmonised work health and safety laws, this strategy will form the framework for this key area of reform.”

Reports by Safe Work Australia – The Cost of Work-related Injury and Illness for Australian Employers, Workers and the Community: 2008-09 and Work-related Traumatic Injury Fatalities, Australia 2009/10 – show Australia recorded its lowest number of work-related deaths since 2003/04.

In the seven years of reporting, 567 workers have died in truck-related incidents, including truck drivers as well as car drivers and pedestrians who have been hit by trucks.

Accidents on agriculture properties accounted for 310 deaths. Nearly a third of the agriculture workers who died were aged over 65.

Of the 216 people killed in 2009/10, 204 were men. The fatality rate of male workers is 3.4 deaths per 100,000, compared with the female rate of 0.2 deaths per 100,000.