New figures from Safe Work Australia show that falls are still a leading cause of death and serious injury in Australian workplaces

The study, titled Work-related Injuries and Fatalities Involving a Fall from Height, covers the eight years from 2003 to 2011 during which time 232 workers were killed after a fall from height.

Statistically, each day more than 20 people fall and injure themselves such that they are unable to work for at least one week.

Construction is the most dangerous industry to work in terms of falling risk.

The construction industry accounted for 37% of falling-related fatalities and saw a fatality rate four times the national rate in the 2008 to 2011 period.

Builders recorded serious claims of falls-related incidence three times higher than the overall injury rate.

This was closely followed by the agriculture, forestry & fishing industry, at twice the national average, and the transport & storage industry at 1.9 times.

Over the full eight years of data the occupation with the highest fatality rate were painters, followed by labourers.

In terms of cost to the public system and ignoring the emotional aspects of deaths; hospitalisation is by far the bigger burden.

Approximately 6900 workers were hospitalised following a fall from a height in just three years from 2006 to 2009. Falls from ladders accounted for 28 per cent of these injuries.

In the years 2009 to 2011 there were 3830 serious claims due to a fall from a ladder. This is equivalent to 3 injuries each day requiring a week or more of leave.

Risk of falling increases with age, the numbers show.

Workers under 35 years old have around 0.6 serious claims per 1000 employees due to a fall from height, but that rate increases with age to 1.0 for employees aged 55 years and over.