Research has shown paramedics have the highest injury rate of any individual occupation in Australia.

While there are more deaths in other industries and sectors, in terms of one specific job, paramedics have the most dangerous.

Central Queensland University’s Professor Brian Maguire will present figures at the Public Health Association Australia’s annual conference in Perth today, showing the incredbile occupational injury risks for Australian paramedics.

In a broad study of work incidents covering the years 2000 to 2010, Dr Maguire found the injury rate for paramedics to be twice as high as for police officers.

“There is no occupational group in Australia that has a higher fatality rate,’’ Dr Maguire has told News Corp reporters.

“Fatalities are largely transportation-related – ambulance crashes, helicopter crashes, or working on the side of a road and being hit by a car.

“When it comes to injuries, a huge majority of injuries are lifting-related and back injuries.’’

The study found there are dozens of serious injuries among paramedics ever year, with an alarming number as the result of an assault.

“The high rate of occupational injuries and fatalities among paramedics is a serious public health issue,’’ Dr Maguire said.

Professor Maguire said he did not wish to discourage anyone from joining the vital profession, but rather means to push the higher tiers of ambulance organisations to focus on safety.

Queensland Health Minister Lawrence Springborg and the Queensland Ambulance Service agree more must be done to protect some of the most important workers on the streets.

They say efforts are always being made to source lighter and less dangerous equipment to help drive down the rate of injury.