Accidents at Work: Statistics, examples and reporting

Accidents at work: 2020-2021 statistics

The Labour Force Survey reports that 441,000 workers in Great Britain sustained a non-fatal injury in 2020-21, and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) states that, sadly, 142 workers sustained a fatal injury.

HSE prosecuted 185 cases (in the same period) where a conviction was secured and issued 2,929 health and safety notices.

Thankfully, these accidents at work and convictions are much fewer than in previous years due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

However, figures that increased were those concerning work-related ill-health. 1.7 million workers suffered from work-related ill-health in 2020-21. Half of these suffered stress, depression, or anxiety and just under a third suffered from musculoskeletal issues.

Issues such as workload, workplace violence, bullying, lack of support, and changes at work are thought to be some of the causes.

Read more on the HSE website.

5 common examples of accidents at work

The most common examples of accidents at work (as reported by HSE) include:

1. Slips, trips or falls on the same level (33%)
2. Handling, lifting or carrying heavy or cumbersome items (18%)
3. Struck by a moving object or falling objects from height (10%)
4. Acts of violence and aggression (8%)
5. Falls from height (8%)

Note: You may want to read our article which will help you to avoid slips, trips and falls at height: Tips for Lone Working at Height.

HSE also note that almost all accidents occur because of unsafe human behaviour. Therefore, organisations must consider human error as part of the Risk Assessment process and put measures in place to reduce the likelihood of this occurring e.g. reducing distractions, managing workload, monitoring noise levels etc.

How many working days are lost due to accidents at work?

No employer wants to hear that one of their employees has had an accident at work. Their first thoughts, quite rightly, go to the safety and wellbeing of the individual involved to ensure they have the appropriate support.

However, employers also must consider the operational and economic impact of accidents on their business. In 2020-21, 339,000 workplace injuries resulted in an absence of fewer than 7 days.

However, 102,000 resulted in an absence of over 7 days. Depending on the role, this length of absence can have a detrimental impact on output and a temporary replacement for the role may need to be found.

The Labour Force Survey reported that 38.8 million working days were lost due to work-related ill health and workplace injury in 2019-20, and HSE estimated that the cost to Great Britain of workplace injuries and ill-health in 2018-19 was a whopping £16.2 billion.

Note: Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, more recent figures are unavailable.

The 4 industries with the highest number of workplace accidents

The industries with the highest number of workplace injuries in Great Britain are:

What should you do if an accident occurs in the workplace?

What you should do when an accident occurs in the workplace may vary depending on the incident. However, generally, here are some steps to follow:

As soon as possible after the accident:

1. Your number 1 priority is to call for help. If you or someone near you is seriously injured, either make a 999 call or press the Red Alert button on your lone worker device.
2. Ensure that no one else has been injured and clear the area if there is still an immediate danger.
3. Tell a manager or team leader who can give you additional instructions and support.
4. Report the accident as per your organisation’s policies and procedures. This may involve informing your organisation’s Health and Safety department.

Your Health and Safety team would usually then:

1. Talk to any witnesses and request audio evidence recorded by the personal safety application or device (also useful for any accident compensation claims).
2. Record details of the accident in an accident book and explain how the incident happened.
3. Complete a RIDDOR report.
   Under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR), employers have a legal obligation to report accidents at work. A RIDDOR report is required when an accident is work-related and it results in one of the injuries specified under RIDDOR e.g. a fracture, amputation, sight loss, crush injuries resulting in internal organ damage, and serious burns. You can find out more on the HSE website.
4. Review the incident.
   Do any policies or procedures need to be changed to stop this from happening again? Does the accident highlight any additional training needs? Do Risk Assessments need to be updated?

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How can a personal safety device help when there’s an accident at work

If you carry a SoloProtect personal safety device or have the mobile app on your phone, calling for help if you or someone you’re with has an accident is extremely quick and easy. Just press the Red Alert button. This will open a call with the SoloProtect Monitoring Centre where operators will be able to locate you, establish the seriousness of the incident, and send appropriate assistance e.g. the emergency services or a colleague. If the police are required, SoloProtect can dial straight into the relevant police control room and we are guaranteed a level 1 response.

If you are incapacitated as a result of the accident, your device or app will sense this and automatically raise an Incapacitation Alert (sometimes called a Man Down Alarm). Once again, this will open a call with the Monitoring Centre and operators can escalate the situation as necessary.

In both scenarios, there’s no need to make a 999 call as our operators will handle this on your behalf and send help to your exact location. We will also notify your escalation contacts of the accident e.g. a colleague and/or family member. This means you can focus on ensuring your immediate safety and wellbeing until help arrives.

How can accidents at work be prevented?

Employers must start by recognising workplace hazards and then ensuring comprehensive risk assessments are in place to identify the likelihood of someone being harmed and the measures that are in place to reduce and control hazards to employees. For example, an employer may identify slip, trip and fall hazards and then put control measures in place to prevent slips, trips and falls at work.

Take a look at our blog: Lone Worker Risk Assessments: your guide.

It’s also important for organisations to encourage effective Dynamic Risk Assessments. The Check-In feature of a SoloProtect lone worker alarm can help to ensure this is at the forefront of people’s minds.

Further information

For more information about how a lone worker system can help you to manage accidents at work, please get in touch using the form below.