THE latest benchmarking data from Safe Work Australia has this month placed Victoria in the top spot as Australia’s safest state to work in.

The 15th release of Safe Work Australia’s Comparative Performance Monitoring Report, which compares work health and safety schemes across the country, has revealed that Victoria has the lowest rate of serious injury and disease for every million hours worked.

According to the report, Victoria had 5.5 claims per million hours worked, well below the Australian average of 7.2 claims per million hours worked.

The figures fell well below Western Australia (6.9 claims per million hours worked), South Australia (7.7), NSW (8), Queensland (8.8) and Tasmania (9.6).

Additionally, Victoria was also found to have the lowest premiums in the country.

Assistant Treasurer Gordon Rich-Phillips said the figures were a result of a state-wide commitment to outstanding health and safety standards.

“Having the safest workplaces of any state in Australia is great news for Victoria and it shows that employers and employees are continuing to strive to make safety their number one priority,” he said.

“Keeping workers safe and supporting injured workers with appropriate benefits, while keeping costs down, makes our scheme the envy of the nation,” Mr Rich Phillips said.

For a full copy of the report, click here.