The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recently released the 2020/21 figures regarding workplace injuries and work-related illnesses, which can help highlight areas of high risk for employers who are responsible for safeguarding their staff.
Employers are required to provide a safe working environment, the appropriate amount of protective equipment and should ensure that all employees work in a safe manner, but even in these modern times, accidents still occur.
What types of workplace accidents occur most often?
The most common workplace accidents since 2020 include:
- Over one third of workplace injuries were slips, trips, or falls
- Injuries while carrying, lifting, or handling
- Being struck by a moving object
- Violent accidents
- Falls from height
What are the most common workplace illnesses?
Since 2020, 1.7 million people in the UK have said they suffered from a workplace illness, with almost half of illnesses being work-related stress, anxiety, or depression.
645,000 workers reported that their work-related illness was caused or made worse by the coronavirus pandemic. And 70 per cent of these were cases of stress, depression, or anxiety.
A further 470,000 people experienced a work-related musculoskeletal disorder, and 93,000 workers said they believe they were exposed to COVID-19 at work before suffering from the coronavirus illness.
“These annual statistics are important to give us a clear picture of the health and safety risks faced by workers in the Great Britain and help to inform the measures HSE, employers, policy-makers and workers themselves need to take to ensure everyone can go home from work safe and well,” said HSE’s Chief Executive, Sarah Albon.
“The latest figures on work-related stress reinforce our previous concerns around the scale of this issue in workplaces,” she continued.
Can I make a claim against my employer?
If your past or current employer has caused any of the above accidents or you are suffering from a work-related illness, then it’s very possible that you can make a compensation claim against them. You will need certain proof regarding your accident, illness, and the negligence. Our team of expert personal injury solicitors can walk you through each step as part of our no win, no fee policy which can help you understand the potential outcome of making a claim.
You may be able to claim compensation for loss of your earnings, care, and travel costs, for your suffering and psychological distress, as well as ways to make your standard of living as best as possible for your recovery.
If you believe you have a claim about an accident at work, it’s important to seek advice as soon as possible, as the limit for making a claim is typically within three years. Get in touch with our team for free legal advice about claiming compensation for accidents at work.
Scott Rees are one of the most highly experienced personal injury specialists in the whole of the UK, with over 25 years of experience in personal injury claims.
Contact us today for a no obligation, no win, no fee conversation to discuss making a claim against a past or current employer.