Workplace accident specialists First4Lawyers reveal the UK’s most common workplace injuries and identify the country’s top 10 workplace accident hotspots, including the top 10 locations per capita using 10 years of internal claims data1.
Last year, 565,000 people were injured on the job2 In 2020, the number of work-related lost days per capita was 20 days, an increase of 186% over the past 10 years3.
123 workers killed on the job in 2020/212more needs to be done to improve workplace health and safety regulations and reduce these staggering numbers.
The 15 most common workplace injuries in the UK1
| damage type | Number of injuries |
| cut at hand | 528 |
| cut on finger | 525 |
| hand dislocation | 474 |
| scarred hands | 453 |
| dislocated back | 448 |
| chop on the head | 424 |
| Dislocated fingers | 402 |
| cut in the back | 394 |
| knee ligament injury | 379 |
| scarred arm | 379 |
| broken back | 359 |
| dislocated foot | 343 |
| dislocated wrist | 330 |
| broken hand | 325 |
| tendon injury in the hand | 315 |
Share expertise on how to prevent the 5 most common workplace injuries across the UK, Nick Higginson, CEO, Phoenix Health & Safety Notes:
“Hand injuries can happen in any workplace, but kitchens and construction sites are common high-risk places. If you work with sharp objects or knives in the workplace, there are courses available to train you in the proper use of knives to reduce your risk of injury.
“If you work or use machinery on a construction site, your employer’s risk assessment should identify any potential hazard areas and identify steps to minimize the risk.”
dislocated hand
“Two common causes of hand dislocations are falls from heights and car accidents. These can happen in a variety of industries including retail, transportation and even offices.
“To ensure your employees are in the best position to avoid falls and injuries, you can enroll your employees in working at height training where they will be trained on best practices for working at heights.”
“In kitchens and factories where corrosive chemicals or boiling oils are used, splashes and spills can cause severe burns and scars. Many workplaces are required by law to have adequate fire safety measures and chemical spill stations, and to provide employees with personal protective equipment and training.
“If your business does nothing, it should conduct a risk assessment to determine the risk of harm to employees and take steps to avoid potential fines.”
back dislocation
“By 2021, 180,000 people in the UK will suffer from back pain due to work-related injuries4. Damage to your back or spine can cause you temporary pain or permanent damage, which can happen if an employee falls from a height or handles a heavy object incorrectly.
“Ensuring your workplace provides the correct equipment and training in handling heavy loads can reduce back injuries.”
head injury
“Head cuts and impacts can occur in any industry due to trips, falls and falling objects from unsafe conditions.
“The risk assessment will identify specific risks in the workplace, what training employees must receive to keep them safe in the workplace, and whether personal protective equipment such as hard hats is also required.”
Find the most common work injuries near you below
In the UK, the top three injuries are back, foot and hand injuries, with chest injuries being particularly prevalent in Manchester. These injuries can result from a variety of workplace hazards, including falls due to slippery floors and lifting heavy objects.
discuss the findings, Jacqueline Busby, Head of Claims, First4Lawyers Said: “While it is positive that the number of serious workplace accidents, including fatalities, has fallen significantly over the past few decades, we are still seeing far too many people being injured in preventable accidents.
“It is perhaps no surprise that large cities top the list of workplace accident hotspots. However, when we look at the number of accidents per capita, there are some much smaller towns in the top 10. This shows that employers across the country need to pay attention to how they protect employee safety.
“We also found that employee injuries ranged from a cut hand to a dislocated back. While injuries are more likely to affect individuals in certain roles, it reminds us that no worker is completely risk-free.”
For more information and expert insight on UK workplace accident hotspots visit: https://www.first4lawyers.com/workplace-accident-hotspots-revealed/
