Work-related injuries and illnesses have continued to decline, the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show.

The rate of injury has fallen from 6.4% of the workforce in 2005/06 to 4.3% in the year to June 30. The latest rate was down two percentage points compared with 2012/13.

About 61% of people who experienced work-related injury or illness in the year to June were male.

The most common types were sprains or strains (33%), chronic joint or muscle conditions (21%) and cuts or open wounds (14%).

Employees (90% of all cases) were more likely to sustain injury or illness than business owner-managers (10%).

About 30% of those suffering injury or illness were working under shift arrangements.

By occupation, the worst-hit groups were machinery operators and drivers (8.8%), community and personal service workers (7.3%), technicians and trades workers (7.2%) and labourers (6.6%).

Of the 531,800 people who suffered work-related injuries in the year to June, 61% received some sort of financial assistance.

Of those, 56% received workers’ compensation, 39% did not apply for workers’ compensation and 4% applied for and did not receive it.