As an employer, it is essential to know what your duties are when it comes to protecting your staff against the risk of personal injury, according to the UK and European health and safety laws. Thousands of accidents occur in UK workplaces every year, some are preventable and others are not; here are the top 10 most common accidents at work, in no particular order.
One of the most common accidents at work occurs as a result of slips on wet surfaces. This is often because the wet surfaces in question are either not dealt with immediately or they are not signed adequately or at all. This can happen anywhere but tiled reception areas and commercial kitchens, as well as wet or icy pavements and car parks are particularly prone to this threat of this hazard.
Trips on loose cables, tiles, carpets or mats in office buildings, reception areas, warehouses and commercial kitchens are a common cause of injury, despite being easily preventable with the right safety equipment and signage.
Falls down poorly lit stairs, off slippery, poorly erected or inadequately signed scaffolding, and off unsecured ladders and steps can cause serious injuries to the person in question and to unsuspecting people in the area.
Burns from unsecured or unmarked hazardous substances, or from naked flames in a warehouse situation or commercial kitchen can cause long term damage to the injured party. Risks from hazardous substances can be minimised with the use of safety signs and stickers, as well as with secured lockers and by designating hazardous areas in which only authorized personnel can enter and in which staff must be provided with and wear correct protective clothing.
Back and neck injuries are prevalent in the workplace and account for a huge number of sick days each year. These can occur when warehouse staff lift heavy items incorrectly, when office-based or call centre staff are not briefed correctly on the set up of their chair and computer monitor and in the form of whiplash when related to driving accidents.
Head injuries can result from slips, trips or falls or from falling objects and therefore can happen to anyone, in any working environment. As a result, it is essential to ensure that all hazards are clearly signed and that staff and visitors are briefed on the specific areas in which they must wear hard hats or not enter at all unless authorised.
RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) can occur when staff are required to carry out repetitive tasks without the correct amount of break time, assessment or equipment. It can occur from doing something as simple as typing or using the telephone for long periods of time and can be minimised by giving staff advice and basic pieces of equipment such as wrist rests and headsets.
Lacerations can be minor or very serious and these often occur when staff are not trained correctly or equipped properly, both instances of which can easily be rectified by conscious and responsible employers.
Industrial deafness can be caused by loud machinery or serious head injuries and can be prevented by training staff, signing potentially hazardous areas and providing staff with safety equipment such as ear defenders and hard hats.
Driving-related injuries and accidents relating to the use of heavy machinery are common in the industrial sectors, in warehouses and in any profession which requires the regular use of vehicles and heavy machinery. These types of accidents can be kept to a minimum by ensuring that staff are trained correctly and machinery and dangerous areas are adequately signed.
