While transport, construction and agriculture were the deadliest sectors in 2024, workplace fatalities were spread across more than half of all industries and involved dozens of occupations.
Those to lose their lives included labourers, truck drivers, farmers and farm hands, electricians, carpenters, firefighters, traffic controllers, teachers and delivery drivers.
WorkSafe Executive Director Health and Safety Sam Jenkin said the toll highlighted the fact any workplace was susceptible to a tragedy, so it was essential for employers and workers to stay vigilant.
"Victoria is among the safest places to work in the world but it is simply unacceptable lives are still being lost in what are entirely preventable workplace incidents," Mr Jenkin said.
"No family should suffer the devastation of losing a loved one at work and we remain unyielding in our commitment to working towards a future of zero workplace deaths."
The tragic 2024 fatality toll includes 18 workers who died following a traumatic workplace incident and 12 workers who were killed in a traffic collision.
A further 17 people succumbed last year to a disease contracted over the course of their employment, two workers were lost to work-related medical complications, and one worker died as a result of a criminal offence.
Mr Jenkin said more than 25,500 workers were also injured seriously enough to have a claim for compensation accepted in 2024.
"For too many years we have continued to see workplace harm due to the same hazards in the same industries, which is why WorkSafe has set ambitious targets to challenge the status quo," he said.
"We are asking for the support and buy-in of the entire Victorian community - only together can we create safer workplaces that last for generations to come."
Last year's deaths were down from the 2023 workplace fatality toll, which now stands at 73.
WorkSafe investigations into workplace fatalities led to 12 successful prosecutions in 2024, including the first conviction under Victoria's workplace manslaughter laws, resulting in $4.76 million in fines and costs being imposed by the courts.
Of the Victorian workplace fatalities in 2024:
- There were 33 deaths recorded in metropolitan Melbourne, including nine in the southern-metro area, while 17 fatalities occurred in regional Victoria.
- Greater Dandenong was the Local Government Area with the most work-related deaths with five lives lost.
- Transport, postal and warehousing was the deadliest industry with 12 fatalities; followed by construction with eight deaths; while there were seven fatalities in agriculture, forestry and fishing.
- Vehicle incidents, both on and off-road, were again the top cause and accounted for 16 deaths; contact with or exposure to chemicals and substances claimed 15 lives; and eight workers died after being trapped or struck by machinery and equipment.
- Labourer was the most dangerous occupation with 14 work-related deaths; followed by truck driver with four fatalities; and electrician with three lives lost.
- Vehicles and machinery were involved in 23 workplace fatalities.
- Males accounted for all but three of those who lost their lives, while almost two-thirds were aged 55 or older at the time of their death.
- More than half of those who died were working for small businesses.
