In other words, the No.1 risk factor for dying at work in Australia is being a bloke, which is hardly surprising seeing as men are the go-to gender for dirty and dangerous jobs. According to the government's Workplace Gender Equality Agency, in 2012-13, the seven industries with lowest female participation (less than 40 per cent of the workforce) were also seven of the most deadly industries in 2012. Some would argue women's lower participation rates in these industries is because of obstacles and attitudes preventing them joining these workforces, so they're obviously not going to be killed in the same numbers as men. However, even in the transport, postal and warehousing sector, where almost 22 per cent of workers were female in 2012-13, every one of the recorded 65 deaths in 2012 was male. This would suggest even when women enter a dangerous industry, men are still filling the riskiest roles or, guys are simply more reckless or stupid - which seems a rather uncharitable interpretation.

What it does highlight is equality in the workplace is a two-way street, one of which is not so pretty or navigable. While no right-thinking person would argue against women deserving equal pay and opportunities wherever they work, for a variety of structural and cultural reasons they're still under-represented in our dirtiest, most dangerous jobs, which by default often fall to men. In the discussion about workplace equality, the metaphors of the "glass ceiling" and "sticky floor" are often employed to illustrated the barriers to women progressing to top jobs or leaving the lowliest. It's worth noting, however, the sticky floor traps many men as well, particularly in industries or jobs which can get you killed. When I did work experience as a garbage collector, I asked the female head of the "resource recovery" department if she'd ever had a female applicant.

"Nope," she said. Like many physical industries still dominated by men, there was a historical need for garbos to have upper body strength because you used to have to empty large metal bins into hessian sacks and haul them, dripping filth, down the street on your shoulder. While still a very physical job, most of the heavy lifting and pushing in garbage collection is now done by wheels and hydraulics. In many councils, drivers don't even leave their truck; the bins are picked up and emptied by a mechanical arm; the gender of the operator is moot. With this knowledge, however, I doubt there's too many Aussie girls who lie back on their beds and dream about becoming a garbo - or for that matter, a roofer, truckie or forklift driver. Then again, there's probably not too many boys who do either.

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