Workplace Accidents – The Statistics
Workplace accidents are sadly very common. Every year, countless workers suffer an accident or injury in the workplace through no fault of their own. Accidents in the workplace can happen because equipment is not safe to use or a risk assessment hasn’t taken place.
Employers are bound by a duty of care, they have the responsibility to provide safe, reasonable working conditions for their employees. The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 places a duty on all employers ‘’to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work’’ of all their employees.
People working in different types of jobs obviously face a range of different hazards.
An office worker may pose fewer safety risks than those working in manufacturing, healthcare, driver or construction worker etc. But there are a range of common accidents and injuries which happen across all sectors – unsurprisingly Slip, Trips and Falls top this list.
According to The Health and Safety Executive, between 2017/18, 3.9 million working days were lost due to non-fault injuries. Overall, 71,062 non-fatal workplace incidents were reported. The Agriculture, forestry and fishing, Construction, Accommodation and Food Services, Wholesale and Retail Trade, Public Administration and Defence and Manufacturing had statistically significantly higher injury rates than for all industries.
31% of these accidents were caused by a Slip, Trip and Fall and 21% of accidents from handling, lifting or carrying. The rest were filtered down into injuries caused by, acts of violence, falls from heights, and being struck by moving objects/vehicles.
Also, in 2017/18, 144 fatal workplace accidents took place. The majority accounted for by two types of accidents – 26% falling from a height and 18% being struck by a moving vehicle. The other fatal injuries were caused by being struck by a moving object, trapped by something collapsing and contact with moving machinery.
You can read the full report here: http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/overall/hssh1718.pdf
If you have been affected by an accident at work, Hampson Hughes are here to get you the compensation you deserve.
The common causes of accidents are work accidents are:
- Improper working practices
- Lack of supervision
- Lack of proper training
- Struck by a moving vehicle e.g. forklift truck
- Wet surfaces (Slip, trip & falls)
- Falling from heights
- Item falling overhead
- Faulty machinery
This is not an exhaustive list, so even if your cause of injury does not appear here, you may still have a case to pursue a workplace accident compensation claim
We understand that making a claim for an accident at work can be a daunting prospect. Many people feel anxious about claiming against their employer, but you are actually claiming against your employer’s insurance policy. Even if the accident was caused by your colleague, your employer is ultimately responsible.
But our expert solicitors will guide you through the process making it as straightforward and easy as possible. So, if you feel your employer could have done more to prevent your workplace injury, contact Hampson Hughes today.
0800 888 6888
