Reports say around 157 Australians died at work in 2019.

New fatality statistics obtained by news outlets suggest worker deaths rose slightly last year, up from 144 people were fatally injured at work in 2018.

The transport, postal and warehousing industry had the greatest risks, with 55 deaths in this sector - nearly a third of all workplace fatalities.

A total of 31 workers were killed in the agriculture, forestry and fishing industry, along with 24 construction fatalities.

Government agency Safe Work Australia (SWA) has told reporters that the preliminary dataset is subject to revision.

The industries most prone to serious claims – according to the proportion of people working in them -  were agriculture, forestry and fishing, manufacturing and transport, postal and warehouse workers.

Top 10 worker deaths by industry of workplace, 2019 (Preliminary data, as at 19 December 2019):

Transport, postal & warehousing: 55 deaths

Agriculture, forestry & fishing: 31 

Construction: 24         

Mining: 9           

Public administration & safety: 9

Manufacturing: 7

Electricity, gas, water & waste services: 6

Other services: 6

Arts & recreation services: 4

Wholesale trade: 2

Professional, scientific & technical services: 2