Health and safety in Australia 'in crisis'

Health and safety laws need to be amended in Australia due to the number of staff members being injured or killed in workplace accidents in the country.

According to Trish Kelsh - whose husband died in an incident at work - the sector in the nation is in "crisis", with the number of deaths higher than it has been at any point in the last four decades, reports ABC.

But Worksafe Commissioner Lex McCulloch stated there is nothing that can be done, due to the fact the incidents occurred across a wide range of industries, adding: "There was no pattern to them, they were just very tragic and unfortunate."

However, Ms Kelsh pointed out one person a week on average is killed as a result of an accident in the workplace in Australia and called for improvements to be made to health and safety legislation.

Australian prime minister Julia Gillard recently defended the country's laws, telling ABC measures are being taken by the government to ensure volunteers are protected.