Think Health and Safety Isn’t Important? Think Again

If you’re one of those people that rolls your eyes when health and safety is mentioned in your workplace, you’re probably not alone. But no matter how much the rules and regulations make you want to tear your hair out, they’re there for a reason.

137 workers were killed at work in Britain in 2016-7 according to the Health and Safety Executive. There’s no doubt that sometimes, bad things happen, but some accidents are avoidable. Here’s the lowdown on the most common workplace accidents in the UK, and what you can do to prevent them from occurring in your workplace.

The top fatal accidents

The accidents that most commonly caused fatalities are as follows:

  • Worker struck by moving vehicle- 31 deaths
  • Falling from height- 25 deaths
  • Worker struck by moving object- 20 deaths
  • Worker trapped by something collapsing or overturning- 10 deaths
  • Contact with moving machinery- 8 deaths
  • Contact with electricity- 8 deaths

Fatal accidents by industry

Construction- 30 deaths. This is high as expected, though construction is an inherently more dangerous industry. 30 deaths is the lowest number on record for the industry, believe it or not.

Waste and recycling- 14 deaths. This has almost doubled since 2015-16 when there were 6 deaths. However, there were 5 deaths in one incident in 2016-17 which accounts for the increase.

Other industries

Communication, Business Services, and finance- 8 deaths

Public administration; education; human health and social work activities- 6 deaths

Mining and quarrying- 4 deaths

Electricity, Gas, Steam and Air Conditioning- 3 deaths

Fatalities by gender and age

In 2016/17, 97% of all worker fatalities were to male workers, around a quarter of which were to workers aged 60 and over, even though they only account for 10% of the workforce.

Fatalities by location

Scotland had the highest number of fatalities at 19, and in England, the East and West Midlands had the highest number of fatalities at 17 and 15 deaths respectively. Some industries are located in certain areas, and some industries are just more dangerous, for example, Scotland has a lot of heavy industry like shipbuilding.

Strange workplace accidents

Thankfully, fatal accidents are not common, but silly accidents are more common. Even people who work for the Health and Safety Executive aren’t immune. The Daily Mail reported that recorded incidents included someone being hit by a falling toilet roll holder, and someone who suffered a groin strain after they tripped over a wet floor sign.

Tips for preventing workplace accidents

  • Always Put wet floor signs down to indicate spillages or in wet weather.
  • Wear correct footwear and clothing for your job role and work tasks. Always wear protective clothing that is provided.
  • Have fully stocked first aid kits and trained first aiders on hand.
  • Wear hi-vis clothing so you can be seen around your workplace, especially if there are vehicles around.
  • Ensure the correct flooring is installed in work areas and it’s kept in good repair.
  • Pay attention to ergonomics and use equipment to help you perform manual handling tasks, like our trucks and trolleys!