The HSE has published its annual statistics on work-related ill health, injuries and deaths. While the figures do not show alarming upticks, they are also far from encouraging. Serious injuries and fatal accidents remain high in several sectors, while the post-pandemic spike in stress, depression and anxiety shows no sign of letting up.
Here at The Health & Safety Dept, we believe that one workplace death is one too many. Here’s a look at the key statistics from 2023, and the things you can do to put the focus back on health and safety in 2024.
Familiar dangers return
For anyone who follows UK health and safety, this year’s headline statistics will come as no surprise. Both the numbers of injuries and deaths and the causes behind them are all too familiar:
- 135 workers were killed in accidents – an increase of 12 since the previous year.
- Construction, agriculture, forestry, and fishing remain the most dangerous industries, accounting for almost half of all workplace deaths.
- 60,645 non-fatal injuries were reported under RIDDOR – an almost identical number to the previous year.
- Slips, trips, and falls accounted for a third of all injuries, while a further 17% were caused by handling, lifting or carrying. Again, this is very similar to previous years.
These dangers have remained stubbornly present in workplaces. If you work in a high-risk sector, it’s important to do everything you can to reduce these risks:
- Carry out risk assessments for every common task. This should highlight all possible dangers and outline a safe system of work to mitigate them.
- Ensure that new employees are properly trained and thoroughly supervised.
- Make sure that safety information is displayed prominently, including instructions for the proper use of machinery.
- Provide adequate safety equipment and inspect this regularly for faults.
- Record all accidents and near misses. If the same problem keeps cropping up, consider holding a toolbox talk or a focused training session to address it.
Traditional workplaces are not without their risks
Office workers are unlikely to suffer a fatal accident, but thousands are still injured every year. Besides the aforementioned slips, trips and falls, desk work has led to an epidemic of musculoskeletal disorders. Nearly half a million workers suffer from musculoskeletal pain, and over 130,000 of these cases have appeared in the last 12 months.
If you manage an office environment, you have a duty to protect your employees from these dangers. A few simple changes are often enough:
- Make sure that corridors and thoroughfares are free of tripping hazards.
- Grit outdoor pathways and steps during the winter.
- Make sure that sedentary employees take plenty of breaks from their desks.
- Consider investing in ergonomic keyboards and chairs for desk-bound workers.
Read more: how to avoid desk-related injuries
The mental health crisis continues
Of course, physical injury is only one aspect of workplace ill health. The pandemic saw a worrying spike in mental health complaints among UK employees, and this has remained a serious issue. Of the 1.8 million total cases of work-related ill-health reported in 2022/23, 875,000 were caused by stress, depression, or anxiety.
There’s no quick fix for employee mental health. Stress, depression, and anxiety can have multiple causes, some of which will be beyond your control. That said, there are some simple steps you can take to ease the pressure on your employees:
- Make it clear that employees can talk to you if they have any concerns.
- Avoid setting unrealistic deadlines.
- Allow flexible working hours for employees with personal commitments.
- Refrain from emailing employees outside of working hours.
- Ensure that remote employees are included in meetings and social events.
- Display contact numbers for mental health support services in the workplace.
Make safety a priority in 2024
No matter how good your health and safety practices are, there’s always room for improvement. Our experts are trained to spot the dangers you’ve missed, and to offer tailor-made advice on how to eliminate them. Give us a call today to find out more.
