Workers across South Australia are being remembered today as part of Workers’ Memorial Day, with recent local tragedies highlighting the risks still faced on the job.
Safe Work Australia has recorded 30 workplace fatalities so far in 2026, and 180 deaths in 2025.
Almost 200 Australian workers have lost their lives each year on the job since 2021.
In March this year, a 24-year-old Strathalbyn man died following an incident at a mushroom farm at Monarto South.
A 41-year-old contractor was killed at Pompoota in 2025 while operating machinery, while a 30-year-old man died in 2023 after being crushed by a dump truck at Brinkley.
Former Supreme Court Justice Malcolm Blue KC died in a tractor accident at Willunga South in 2024.
Safety authorities say regional areas continue to face higher risks, particularly in agriculture, construction and transport, where machinery and vehicles are leading causes of death and serious injury.
“Today is about honouring those who have lost their lives and remembering the families, friends, and
colleagues who carry the loss every day,” Chair of the Australian Institute of Health and Safety (AIHS), Celia Antonovsky said.
She said this year’s theme of Fighting Psychosocial Hazards at Work also highlights the impact on mental health, emotional wellbeing, and social function.
“It is a powerful reminder that workplace safety is not just about what we can see, and if left unaddressed, can have devastating consequences.”
Recent data from Black Dog Institute reveals the three leading factors driving psychosocial harm in Australian workplaces are high job demands, burn out, and inadequate managerial support.
