Workplace death figures unacceptable, says OSH

Occupational Safety and Health says there were 40 workplace deaths last year and the number is unacceptable.

Fifty-seven people were killed in the previous year, but OSH says employers, employees and industy organisations need to combine efforts to stop people dying and being injured in the workplace.

The agriculture sector had most deaths, with 17 people killed. One third involved four-wheel farm bikes.

There were nine deaths on construction sites, and seven in both the forestry and industrial sectors.