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The number of people injured in New Zealand workplaces every year would fill Eden Park almost four times over, according to a new report.
Approximately 190,000 people claim medical costs from ACC as a result of being harmed at work, over 100 people die from work place accidents, and between 700 and 1000 people die as a result of gradual work-related diseases every year.
The stark figures have been branded as "simply not good enough" by the Independent Taskforce on Workplace Safety, which released the statistics.
In a document published today, the taskforce reported work related injuries cost New Zealand around $3.5billion a year.
The taskforce was set up earlier this year to make recommendations to Government on how to reduce risks in the workplace.
Its aim is to help achieve the goal of a 25% reduction in workplace deaths and serious injuries by 2020.
Today it released a discussion document outlining the key issues it believes are at the core of workplace health and safety.
The document also seeks input from the public about health and safety issues.
"This is simply not good enough, and needs to change," said Rob Jager, who chairs the ITWHS.
"New Zealand's workplace injury rates are about twice that of Australia and almost six times that of the UK.
"Workplace injuries are not an isolated issue - they affect everyone - and occur as a result of a combination of many things including changing workplace practices and environments, regulatory 'fitness' and perhaps even our own culture.
"So we know we have a challenging task in front of us and understand we need input from as many individuals and organisations as possible so that our recommendations to Government are practical, deliverable and sharply focused on reducing harm in the workplace.
"Simply put, the taskforce's recommendations need to change New Zealand's poor track record.
"Achieving the required step-change will take the combined efforts of Government, businesses, workers, unions and society as a whole."
The Council of Trade Unions (CTU) said the "disgraceful" figures showed how much health and safety policy needs to change.
"It's a disgrace that on average 100 people per year are killed at work," said CTU president Helen Kelly.
"If there is something all New Zealanders would agree on it is that every worker who leaves home at the start of their working day should return home safe and healthy. This is a fundamental starting point."
She called on the taskforce and the Government to introduce strong health and safety regulations.
"Any reform of the health and safety system must be bold enough to bolster the inspectorate and tackle the real issues of work arrangements, the structure of work, the regulatory framework, and proper employee participation," she said.
"The taskforce, and ultimately the Government, needs to make recommendations that rebalance the system so that health and safety is a priority within business and those that take it seriously are not undermined by those that take risks to gain competitive advantage.
"This will require strong regulations, standard setting and enforcement and decent investment in the people on whom health and safety depends - the workers."
Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson said she welcomed the consultation document.
"The Pike River tragedy was the catalyst for me to set up the Independent Taskforce earlier this year to undertake the first strategic review of our workplace health and safety system in 20 years," she said.
"I'm pleased to see the start of public consultation as part of this work.
"New Zealand's workplace death and injury rates are unacceptable.
"The Government is already taking action across a range of fronts to ensure we get better results, including a boost to workplace health and safety funding by $37 million in Budget 2012."
The document provides descriptions of key health and safety issues, as well as a series of questions on each for respondents to answer.
The document is available online and the public is asked to submit their opinions on the findings.
Submissions close at 5pm on November 16. The Taskforce is due to report to Government by November 16, 2013.
KEY FIGURES:
* Over 100 people die from workplaces accidents
* Between 700 and 1000 people die as a result of gradual work-related diseases
* Over 6000 people notify the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment of a serious harm incident in their workplace
* Around 190,000 people claim medical costs from ACC as a result of being harmed at work
* Of those 190,000: around 23000 people are injured seriously enough to be off work for more than a week; around 370 people are injured seriously enough to require hospital care and be diagnosed with a life threatening condition
* New Zealand's workplace injury rates are about twice that of Australia and almost six times that of the UK
* The economic cost of work related injuries to New Zealand is around $3.5 billion