Almost every occupational health and safety (OHS) inquiry by the Australian Government has acknowledged the inadequacies of data on workplace injuries, illnesses and deaths. The 1995 Inquiry into Occupational Health and Safety (Volume 2) (pages 377-378) by the (then) Industry Commission acknowledged the lack of empirical evidence and made up its own. The situation has barely improved.
However a new project by West Australian academic, Dr Marcus Cattani, has the potential to change this. Injury Alarm is a free tool that can help companies determine their own level of safety risk, allocate a risk alarm level and allow for improvements to be measured and monitored over time.