Latest figures from the Australian Safety and Compensation Council show the number of workplace deaths has fallen more than 25% since 2001 – from 320 to 236 during 2006/07.

The council’s annual compendium of workers’ compensation statistics 2006/07 reveals more than 132,000 serious workers’ compensation claims in Australia.

Some 73% of claims related to injuries and 27% were disease-related. Sprains and strains of joints accounted for 41% of all serious claims.