Do you know the most common reasons for accidents in the workplace?

Common reasons for accidents in the workplace

Depending on which industry you work in there are a different variety of hazards you may come into contact with.

One example is an office worker is much less at risk from being burnt than a chef as you would expect.

There is however a range of common accidents and injuries which occur across all occupational sectors – and slips / trips and falls invariably top the table.

In 2013/14

• over half the fatal injuries to workers were of three kinds: falls from height; contact with moving machinery; and being struck by a vehicle (RIDDOR)
• falls and slips & trips, combined, account for over a third (35%) of employee injuries. They made up more than half of all reported major/specified injuries and almost three in ten (29%) over-seven-day injuries to employees (RIDDOR)
• handling was the most frequent cause of over-seven-day injury (RIDDOR)
• an estimated 1.9 million working days were lost due to handling injuries and slips & trips (LFS).

Up to date HSE statistics

Overall, the three most common types of accident/injury were:

• Trips/slips or falls
• Machinery / Moving Objects
• Manual handling/lifting

Some of the most common injuries were:

• Sprains and strains
• Back injury
• Head injury
• Neck injury
• Repetitive Strain Injury

Most Common Risks 

Overall, slips/trips and falls or damage caused by manual handling/lifting remain the main culprits of injury in the workplace.

Some of these risks may have been able to be managed if a risk assessment and workforce training had been carried out. If you need an up to date risk assessment or tool box talks download our free documents below:

RA1 – Working at Heights

Slips, Trips and Falls Tool Box Talk

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