Statistics Reflect Males In High-risk Occupations

Work-related Injury Statistics Reflect Male Predominance in High-risk Occupations

About three-quarters of all claims for work-related injuries in 2003 were made by males, according to provisional data released today by Statistics New Zealand. This reflects the predominance of males in occupations with the greatest risk of injury.

The occupation group with the highest number of claims for work-related injuries was plant and machine operators and assemblers, with 18 percent of all claims. This group includes meat and fish processing machine operators, heavy truck drivers, and building and related workers. The highest rate of injury occurred among workers in the elementary occupations group, which includes labourers. The rate for this group was 297 claims for work-related injury per 1,000 full-time equivalent employees (FTEs). The plant and machine operators and assemblers group followed closely behind with a rate of 286 claims per 1,000 FTEs. The safest occupation group was clerks, with an incidence rate of 49 claims per 1,000 FTEs.

This is the second release of a new annual statistical series about injuries. It shows that 247,500 claims were accepted in 2003 (as at 31 March 2004). These claims for work-related injury were made by 210,700 workers. There were 87 claims for fatal injury in 2003, and all but four of these involved male workers.

Claims for work-related injuries occurring in 2003 had incurred costs of $162.8 million to the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) by the end of March 2004. Also during 2003, additional costs of $100.1 million were incurred by ACC for work-related injuries that occurred in 2002, and a further $28.6 million was incurred for work-related injuries that occurred in 2001.

These results come from claims filed with ACC, which recently celebrated 30 years of active involvement in injury prevention and management.

Ian Ewing
Acting Government Statistician
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