Many people take a safe working environment for granted, assured in the knowledge that accidents in their role are incredibly rare. However, becoming complacent while carrying out everyday tasks can mean that even workplaces with less obvious hazards can pose risks to employees, no matter what their roles are.

According to the Health and Safety Executive and the Labour Force survey, 565,000 workers suffered injuries from accidents in the workplace in the period of 2021 to 2022, and 123 workers were killed in work-related accidents. While this is a decrease in incidents from the previous years, individuals should still ensure that they hold their employers responsible for their negligence of safety precautions.

Accidents can take place anywhere and more serious incidents can have a long-term physical and emotional impact on those affected, while also having significant financial implications for the business itself.

With this in mind, in this blog post, we will explore the five most common reasons why injuries occur in the workplace and explain how individuals can avoid risks and what businesses must do to protect the individuals using their premises.

Slips, trips and falls

Slips, trips and falls can occur for a number of reasons and in any type of workplace. According to the Health and Safety Executive, an average of two employees die every year as a result of a slip, trip or fall on the same level. Despite this, slips, trips and falls are some of the easiest workplace accidents to avoid.

Often, negligent employees leave file drawers open or fail to use the proper equipment when reaching for items, which as a result, puts lives at risk. Loose electrical cords and wires can also pose a significant risk in the workplace. Poor housekeeping has the potential to create a considerable number of hazards, which can lead to accidents. On the other hand, a well-maintained workplace sets a good example and promotes a healthier working environment for everyone.

Client-facing businesses are often better at keeping their workplace tidy, compared to those that do not regularly have visitors. Housekeeping is generally a good indicator of a company’s attitude towards safety and quality, which means it is particularly important for all companies to ensure their environments are tidy.

It is vital that all employees either clean spills, wet floors or slippery surfaces or report them to an employer to ensure that these spillages are dealt with timely. 

Employers should put cleaning and tidying processes in place to avoid the buildup of hazards. This may be done by facilitating cleaners or by clearly signposting rules for employees who use kitchen areas and toilets, and for those who may clutter walkways.

Handling, lifting or carrying

The HSE reports that 18% of all non-fatal workplace injuries in the period of 2021 to 2022 occurred due to handling, lifting or carrying objects. This suggests that many workers underestimate the risks associated with carrying and lifting, and that employers are not taking the proper safety procedures to ensure workers understand how to do so safely.

Most types of physical activity will become tiring if they are carried out over a long period of time. Accidents relating to physical exertion, such as lifting, bending, pulling, pushing and kneeling are incredibly common, particularly if employees do not take regular breaks.

However, even jobs that do not require individuals to lift heavy loads can also pose a risk. Regularly lifting lighter loads, such as files and boxes, can be detrimental to a person’s health if proper lifting techniques are not practised. This can lead to long-term back, arm, leg or neck injuries that may affect an individual's ability to work or do day-to-day activities. Additionally, those carrying lighter objects may be at risk of falling, knocking themselves or dropping the item, which may break and then cause an additional hazard.

Being struck by a moving object  

In industries where heavy objects or vehicles may cross with pedestrian access, employees may be susceptible to being hit by moving objects. This is especially prevalent for jobs on construction sites or projects where temporary structures may be built or installed.

Due to the nature of the work, the objects that are being moved are often heavy, so an injury from such an accident can be severe and even fatal - as the HSE workplace fatality report shows, 18 workers were killed in 2021 due to being struck by a moving object, and 23 were killed by moving vehicles.

Areas in which vehicles and heavy objects are moving should be clearly signposted and employees must make sure they are aware of their surroundings, such as by listening out and looking at their surroundings before and while walking. Personal protective equipment (PPE) such as hard hats may help with protecting against impacts by objects. Employers should provide their employees with the necessary PPE for their jobs.

Acts of violence

Despite the workplace being somewhere for positive social interactions and relationships to thrive, the opposite can be true - as evidenced by the HSE's report, 9% of workplace injuries were caused by acts of violence.

As well as physical violence, workplace violence includes verbal abuse and threats. As workers can not directly sustain an injury due to these types of violence, we can not assess the full extent of the effects of workplace violence, but we can assume that verbal violence most likely occurs before physical attacks. With that assumption, it may be that verbal attacks are more common than physical attacks, so employers must ensure they have measures in place to protect their employees from the escalation that may occur.

The measures that employers can take to reduce the chances of both verbal and physical violence from occurring in the workplace include helping the individuals to resolve issues, providing access to counselling services or a mental health volunteer who can help prevent them from inciting violence in the workplace or hiring security staff who will monitor any aggression and step in to prevent it.

If an employee is worried that another member of staff may act violently towards them, they should feel safe reporting it to their employer or the police, and be confident that steps will be taken to support them.

Falls from a height 

Falling from height is another form of accident that is most likely to occur in construction environments. Despite this, falls from height are still common workplace accidents, suggesting that contractors and project managers are not taking the necessary steps to ensure the safety of their workers, or that the workers are not remaining aware of the risks while working at heights.

Some falls from heights can be stopped by providing the correct equipment or by warning individuals away from dangerous areas.

Employers must implement good practices to ensure that their operations are planned properly, and employees must ensure they stick to the plan. However, if an employee is concerned that the plan is bad or that there isn't one in place, they should appeal to their employer or the HSE before agreeing to conduct any work.

Contact us

If you have been injured at work due to the negligence of another employee, contact JMW Solicitors today by calling 0345 872 6666, or fill out our online contact form. Our workplace accident specialists are on hand to guide you through the claims process.