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Home / News / HSE 2020/21 health & safety at work statistics: The 5 key takeaways

Hse 2020/21 health & safety at work statistics: the 5 key takeaways.

The HSE have released the annual health and safety figures for the year 2020/2021, and here are the 5 key takeaways.

1. Because of COVID-19, no statistics on working days lost and economic costs are included in this year’s statistics.

Because of the discontinuity in collecting statistics presented by COVID-19 measures such as furlough, the HSE have decided to omit statistics on working days lost and their associated economic costs.

Instead, they have released a 29-page technical report on how the pandemic has affected the collection and interpretation of the latest health & safety statistics, which can be found on: https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/coronavirus/covid-19.pdf

However, data on how many workers were directly affected by the coronavirus illness is included (see number 2).

2. New and long-standing infectious disease (virus, bacteria) illnesses have more than tripled

After going up by 21% to 1.63 million in 19/20, new and long-standing illnesses have increased slightly to 1.66 million this year.

Significantly, infectious disease (virus, bacteria) illnesses more than tripled, from 30,000 cases in 19/20 to 93,000 cases this year. According to the HSE, the cases are all for COVID-19 which respondents believe may have been from exposure to coronavirus at work.

However, only 32,110 COVID-19 cases were reported to Enforcing Authorities in 2020/21 which employers believed may be caused by exposure to coronavirus at work.

Positively, whilst stress, depression or anxiety cases went up a worrying 37% in 19/20, this year they have decreased by around 2,000 cases; and in other positive news, work-related musculoskeletal disorder cases fell for a third consecutive year, decreasing by 23,000 cases to 470,000.

3. Workplace fatalities have returned above the 5-year average

After a record low of workplace fatalities last year (113), deaths have climbed to 142 – above the 16/17 to 20/21 5-year average of 136.

The most common cause of fatal injuries continues to be falls from height (35), followed by being struck by a moving vehicle (25) and being struck by a moving object (17), which altogether account for more than half of the fatalities.

4. Serious injuries have had their largest yearly decrease in 40 years:

Self-reported non-fatal injuries have reduced by an estimated 250,000 cases (36%), with slips, trips and falls accounting for 33% of these cases and manual handling accounting for 18%.

There was also a notable reduction in serious workplace injuries this year; with 51,211 employee non-fatal injuries reported by employers to RIDDOR – which is over 15,000 cases less than 2019/20.

This represents the largest yearly drop in RIDDOR-reported injuries since 1980.

5. HSE prosecutions are down more than 40%

After a significant drop in HSE (and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in Scotland) notices, prosecutions and fines in 2019/20, this year saw prosecutions fall by 36% and total fines fall by 23%.

The construction industry, which suffered the most prosecutions last year (42%), saw prosecutions more than halve this year; although it still remains the sector with the highest prosecutions (37%).

On the other hand, the manufacturing industry had the second most prosecutions (32%), but remains the sector with the highest fine total (£8 million) – half of its total fines in 19/20.

Bibliography

HSE (2021) ‘Health and safety statistics’. Available at:  http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/  (accessed: 17/12/2021)

HSE (2021) ‘Workplace fatal injuries in Great Britain, 2021’. Available at:  http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/pdf/fatalinjuries.pdf  (accessed: 20/12/2021)

HSE (2021) ‘Kinds of accident statistics in Great Britain, 2021’. Available at:  http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causinj/kinds-of-accident.pdf  (accessed: 20/12/2021)

HSE (2021) ‘Historical picture statistics in Great Britain, 2021 – trends in work-related ill health and workplace injury’. Available at:  https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/history/historical-picture.pdf (accessed: 20/12/2021)

HSE (2021) ‘Enforcement statistics in Great Britain, 2021’. Available at:  http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/enforcement.pdf (accessed: 20/12/2021)

HSE (2021) ‘LFS – Labour Force Survey – Self-reported work-related ill health and workplace injuries: Index of LFS tables’. Available at:  http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/lfs/index.htm#illness  (accessed: 17/12/2021)

HSE (2021) Technical Report: The Impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the interpretation of Health and Safety Statistics 2020/21 https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/adhoc-analysis/covid19-impact19-20.pdf (accessed 17/12/2021)

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Slip, Trip and Fall Statistics

Looking at the accidents reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), in 2009/2010 there were around 45,000 reported injuries in total – obviously many more minor injuries going entirely unreported. Accidents do happen although the vast majority of these injuries were entirely preventable and avoidable.

Slip, trip and fall injuries cost the UK approaching 1 billion pounds per year.

37% of all reported workplace injuries were as a result of a slip, trip or fall, with 28% of all fatalities in the workplace being caused by a slip, trip or fall.

On average approximately 50 people die each year from a slip, trip or fall and a great many more are injured – some critically.

The severity of injury varies between the type of accident with perhaps predictably the most fatalities being attributed to injuries from falls. Of the 45,000 injuries reported under RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries Diseases and Dangerous Occurrence Regulations), 43 these of these involved fatalities. 88% of these fatalities were attributed to falls, 58% of the fall fatalities being sustained from heights in excess of 2 metres, with the remaining 12% of the fatalities being caused by slips or trips.

95% of the fatalities were sustained by men which can be explained by the largely male-dominated construction industry – roofing and painting / decorating being particularly high risk. 59% of all fatalities were in the construction industry, and there were also twice as many non-fatal major fall injuries in this sector than the next highest sector.

The incidence and severity of injury increases in a roughly linear fashion with the age of the person involved – approximately twice as many incidents being in the 60-64 age group as the 16-19 year old age group. A third of worker fatalities were in the 60-64 age group even though they make up only 13% of the workforce.

The majority of the major slip and trip injuries occurred in the healthcare sector.

Ladders were involved in almost a third of all major fall injuries.

Slip, trip and fall rates by employment sector

This image shows the number of incidents per industry, and the number per 100,000 employees which allows a side-by-side comparison of the various industries in terms of risk.

In terms of non-fatal injuries, approximately 30,000 people per year sustain what the HSE refers to as an “over 3 day injury” – or in other words injuries lasting for longer than 3 days. Almost 75% of over 3 day injuries are caused by slips, with 35% of these taking place on wet surfaces – the majority occurring during the wetter months of the year – October to March.

Outside the workplace a further 32 fatalities were recorded involving members of the public – 72% of these were falls, the remainder being caused by slips or trips.

2009/10 Statistics courtesy of HSE.

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Slip, trips and falls: Most common workplace injuries revealed

Posted on Feb 14, 2022

A UK-based marketplace connecting professional and hobbyist builders with materials suppliers has revealed the most common construction workplace injuries, after the return to work for many in the industry. The marketplace used publicly available data to gather the information and raise awareness of health and safety and how common (and even fatal) these injuries can be. According to the data, the main cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries in the construction workplace is slips, trips, and falls on level ground, with more than 900 injuries reported over the last year*. 

A marketplace connecting DIY enthusiasts and the construction industry with materials suppliers has revealed the most common construction workplace injuries.

The platform behind the research, MaterialsMarket.com, analysed publicly available injury data by Health and Safety Executive from the past year in the construction industry, to find out what the most common types of injuries that workers should be aware of. 

A total of 3,503 injuries – both fatal and non-fatal – were reported in the construction industry between 2020 and 2021, making it the fourth most dangerous industry for employees in the UK. The industry is preceded only by public administration and defence (17,203 reported injuries), manufacturing (8,733 reported injuries), and wholesale and retail trade (8,303 reported injuries)*. 

The top five most common types of injury reported between 2020 and 2021 in the construction industry are:

• Slips, trips, or falls on same level: 945 reported injuries
• Falls from a height: 701 reported injuries
• Injured while handling, lifting, or carrying: 623 reported injuries
• Struck by moving/flying/falling object: 412 reported injuries
• Other kinds of accident: 332 reported injuries

The full list of injuries sustained in the construction industry along with further information and a map of the regions in the UK with the most reports of injuries can be found here: https://materialsmarket.com/articles/slip-trips-and-falls-most-common-workplace-injuries-revealed/

While conducting the research, the platform found the top five locations that reported the most workplace injuries during 2020/2021 were**:

• London (central and Greater): 5,074 reported injuries
• West Midlands: 2,331 reported injuries
• Greater Manchester: 2,051 reported injuries
• West Yorkshire: 2,691 reported injuries
• Merseyside: 1,164 reported injuries

MaterialsMarket.com is a marketplace seeking to improve efficiency in the construction supply industry, providing speedy delivery times and affordable pricing. With the belief that for every order there is a perfect supplier, it aims to match the customer and supplier, saving time, money, and stress.

Samuel Hunt, co-founder of MaterialsMarket.com, said,

“In any industry, and not least in construction, the health and safety of employees should be the ultimate priority. We wanted to make sure that those in the construction industry are aware of the most common workplace injuries and just how dangerous they can be. 

“We’re fully aware that many people – especially those in the construction industry – understand the dangers that come with a job in the trade. However, we thought that putting a number to it might encourage workers to heed warnings more seriously and might also motivate members of the public to take extra care around building sites too.”

Author: Editorial Team

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HSE website: Slips and Trips

The new 2019/20 Reports have been published by the HSE. The annual statistics for “Workplace fatal injuries in Great Britain 2021” is available as PDF from the HSE website. The site “Non-fatal injuries at work in Great Britain” shows that a third of all accidents are a result of slip, trips or falls on the same level. While there is an overall downward trend since 2000/01, it also shows how much safety can improve by eliminating or controlling the biggest cause of those non-fatal accidents.

The HSE slips and trips website provides information on slips and trips in the workplace. It offers employers, workers, architects and designers advice and guidance to comply with health and safety law.

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires employers to ensure the health and safety of all employees and anyone affected by their work, so far as is reasonably practicable, which means balancing the level of risk against the measures needed to control the risk in terms of money, time or trouble. This includes taking steps to control slip and trip risks.

The HSE website provides comprehensive information on the causes of slip accidents with guidance on how to prevent slips and trips to ensure a safe workplace plus an FAQs section (with questions such as ‘How do I choose an appropriate floor surface for my workplace?’, ‘Are safety floors more difficult to clean?’, ‘What is surface roughness?’ and ‘How do I check whether my floor is slip resistant?’). It also offers a variety of resources and tools to support this guidance including methods to assess the slip resistance of flooring (members of the UKSRG can provide testing to these methods) and a technical information sheet on Preventing Slips & Trips at Work.

For more information: http://www.hse.gov.uk/slips/

(Published 02/2018, reviewed 06/2022)

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Accidents at Work: Statistics, examples and reporting

How many workers suffered a work-related injury in 2020-21, what were the most common accidents, how many working days were lost and how should you report an accident? All this and more...

Accidents at work: 2020-2021 statistics.

The Labour Force Survey reports that 441,000 workers in Great Britain sustained a non-fatal injury in 2020-21, and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) states that, sadly, 142 workers sustained a fatal injury.

HSE prosecuted 185 cases (in the same period) where a conviction was secured and issued 2,929 health and safety notices.

Thankfully, these accidents at work and convictions are much fewer than in previous years due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

However, figures that increased were those concerning work-related ill-health. 1.7 million workers suffered from work-related ill-health in 2020-21. Half of these suffered stress, depression, or anxiety and just under a third suffered from musculoskeletal issues.

Issues such as workload, workplace violence, bullying, lack of support, and changes at work are thought to be some of the causes.

Read more on the HSE website .

5 common examples of accidents at work

The most common examples of accidents at work (as reported by HSE) include:

• Slips, trips or falls on the same level (33%)
• Handling, lifting or carrying heavy or cumbersome items (18%)
• Struck by a moving object or falling objects from height (10%)
• Acts of violence and aggression (8%)
• Falls from height (8%)

Note: You may want to read our article which will help you to avoid slips, trips and falls at height: Tips for Lone Working at Height .

HSE also note that almost all accidents occur because of unsafe human behaviour. Therefore, organisations must consider human error as part of the Risk Assessment process and put measures in place to reduce the likelihood of this occurring e.g. reducing distractions, managing workload, monitoring noise levels etc.

How many working days are lost due to accidents at work?

No employer wants to hear that one of their employees has had an accident at work. Their first thoughts, quite rightly, go to the safety and wellbeing of the individual involved to ensure they have the appropriate support.

However, employers also must consider the operational and economic impact of accidents on their business. In 2020-21, 339,000 workplace injuries resulted in an absence of fewer than 7 days.

However, 102,000 resulted in an absence of over 7 days. Depending on the role, this length of absence can have a detrimental impact on output and a temporary replacement for the role may need to be found.

The Labour Force Survey reported that 38.8 million working days were lost due to work-related ill health and workplace injury in 2019-20, and HSE estimated that the cost to Great Britain of workplace injuries and ill-health in 2018-19 was a whopping £16.2 billion.

Note: Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, more recent figures are unavailable.

The 4 industries with the highest number of workplace accidents

The industries with the highest number of workplace injuries in Great Britain are:

• Agriculture , forestry and fishing
• Construction
• Accommodation and food service
• Wholesale and retail trade (including mote vehicle repair)

What should you do if an accident occurs in the workplace?

What you should do when an accident occurs in the workplace may vary depending on the incident. However, generally, here are some steps to follow:

As soon as possible after the accident:

• Your number 1 priority is to call for help. If you or someone near you is seriously injured, either make a 999 call or press the Red Alert button on your lone worker device .
• Ensure that no one else has been injured and clear the area if there is still an immediate danger.
• Tell a manager or team leader who can give you additional instructions and support.
• Report the accident as per your organisation’s policies and procedures. This may involve informing your organisation’s Health and Safety department.

Your Health and Safety team would usually then:

• Talk to any witnesses and request audio evidence recorded by the personal safety application or device (also useful for any accident compensation claims).
• Record details of the accident in an accident book and explain how the incident happened.
• Complete a RIDDOR report. Under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR), employers have a legal obligation to report accidents at work. A RIDDOR report is required when an accident is work-related and it results in one of the injuries specified under RIDDOR e.g. a fracture, amputation, sight loss, crush injuries resulting in internal organ damage, and serious burns. You can find out more on the HSE website .
• Review the incident. Do any policies or procedures need to be changed to stop this from happening again? Does the accident highlight any additional training needs? Do Risk Assessments need to be updated?

How can a personal safety device help when there’s an accident at work?

If you carry a SoloProtect personal safety device or have the mobile app on your phone, calling for help if you or someone you’re with has an accident is extremely quick and easy. Just press the Red Alert button. This will open a call with the SoloProtect Alarm Receiving Centre where operators will be able to locate you, establish the seriousness of the incident, and send appropriate assistance e.g. the emergency services or a colleague. If the police are required, SoloProtect can dial straight into the relevant police control room and we are guaranteed a level 1 response.

If you are incapacitated as a result of the accident, your device or app will sense this and automatically raise an Incapacitation Alert (sometimes called a Man Down Alarm ). Once again, this will open a call with the Monitoring Centre and operators can escalate the situation as necessary.

In both scenarios, there’s no need to make a 999 call as our operators will handle this on your behalf and send help to your exact location. We will also notify your escalation contacts of the accident e.g. a colleague and/or family member. This means you can focus on ensuring your immediate safety and wellbeing until help arrives.

How can accidents at work be prevented?

Employers must start by recognising workplace hazards and then ensuring comprehensive risk assessments are in place to identify the likelihood of someone being harmed and the measures that are in place to reduce and control hazards to employees. For example, an employer may identify slip, trip and fall hazards and then put control measures in place to prevent slips, trips and falls at work.

Take a look at our blog: Lone Worker Risk Assessments: your guide .

It’s also important for organisations to encourage effective Dynamic Risk Assessments . The Check-In feature of a SoloProtect lone worker alarm can help to ensure this is at the forefront of people’s minds.

Further information

For more information about how a lone worker system can help you to manage accidents at work, please get in touch using the form below.

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HSE Report 2021

Customer enquiries

The statistics on Slips, Trips & Falls published by the HSE provide some of the most powerful marketing tools in our arsenal and reading the annual report never fails to provide the Sales Teams with ammunition. Statistics show slipping and tripping to be the single most common cause of major injury in UK workplaces and they are often the initiators of accidents attributed to other causes, such as some machinery accidents, scalding and falls from height.

While the latest report shows a marked decline in reported incidents (presumably because sites were closed during lockdown and so many people are working from home), it’s safe to say that as long as accidents continue to occur there is going to be room for improvement. While any employer worth their salt will do everything they can to avoid harm coming to staff while at work, today’s deplorable ‘where there’s blame, there’s a claim’ culture means even those that take the occasional shortcut are more conscious than ever about their Health & Safety responsibilities.

In 2020/21 441,000 workers sustained a non-fatal injury according to self-reports from the Labour Force Survey in 2020/21 (LFS), resulting in time off work, 102,000 or those taking seven days or more. 41% of those were as a result of a slip trip or fall . You can read the full report here .

It doesn’t take a genius to know that indoor hazards such as trailing cables, liquid spills and obstructions can be quickly and easily resolved with good housekeeping but what about the accidents that happen outside? Slippery outdoor steps and walkways put staff AND visitors, clients or customers at risk but can be improved by adding long-lasting GRP Anti-Slip Strips, Stair Nosing or Tread Covers . Quick and easy to install, they are available in a range of colours to add contrast – alerting those with poor eyesight to the edges.

For a more comprehensive solution, Step on Safety provide non-slip access in and around plant machinery. Step Overs , Hop Overs and Maintenance Platforms help ensure the safety of engineers working on the services – whether in a plant room or up on the roof .

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Pedestrian slips, trips and falls

Everybody probably knows someone who’s fallen outside. but surprisingly little is known about how many pedestrians fall, who falls, why or where..

Our 2023 report reveals that pedestrian falls could be costing English taxpayers as much as half a billion pounds a year.

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What's the problem?

Falls happen to people of all ages, but older people are disproportionately affected.

Academic literature suggests there could be as many as a million outdoor falls among older adults (65+) in England each year.

Hospital admissions data shows a peak in the number of falls between the 80 to 84 age band.

The declining condition of our pavements observed in our street reviews represent an increased risk of pedestrian trips and falls.

Living Streets was very pleased to receive funding from the Department for Transport to try to explore the true cost and impact of pedestrian trips and falls.

We surveyed local authorities to ask how many footway faults and footway falls were reported.

Their responses suggest that annual personal injury claims payments in England ranged from approximately £15.6 million in 2018 to £7.3 million in 2020.

This is dwarfed by cost medical treatment and ongoing social care. The cost of emergency admissions requiring an overnight stay in 2019 was an estimated £98.7 million.

Ongoing social care could be four times as much. Which begs the question – is footway maintenance being given the priority it deserves?

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• Health and social care
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• Falls and fractures: applying All Our Health
• Office for Health Improvement & Disparities

Falls: applying All Our Health

Updated 25 February 2022

© Crown copyright 2022

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected] .

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/falls-applying-all-our-health/falls-applying-all-our-health

The Public Health England team leading this policy transitioned into the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities ( OHID ) on 1 October 2021.

Introduction

Falls and fractures in older people are often preventable. Reducing falls and fractures is important for maintaining the health, wellbeing and independence of older people.

A fall is defined as an event which causes a person to, unintentionally, rest on the ground or lower level, and is not a result of a major intrinsic event (such as a stroke) or overwhelming hazard. Having a fall can happen to anyone; it is an unfortunate but normal result of human anatomy. However, as people get older, they are more likely to fall over. Falls can become recurrent and result in injuries including head injuries and hip fractures.

The causes of having a fall are multifactorial – a fall is the result of the interplay of multiple risk factors. These include:

• muscle weakness
• poor balance
• visual impairment
• polypharmacy – and the use of certain medicines
• environmental hazards
• some specific medical conditions, which might make a person more likely to fall

Falls are events resulting from the presence of risk factors. The likelihood and severity of injury resulting from an event is related to a number of possible factors including bone health, risk of falls, frailty and low weight. Strong bones are important for your health. People with low bone mineral density are more likely to experience a fracture following a fall. Osteoporosis is one of the reasons why people have low bone mineral density.

Over 3 million people in the UK have osteoporosis and they are at much greater risk of fragility fractures. Fragility fractures are fractures that result from mechanical forces that would not ordinarily result in fracture, known as low-level (or ‘low energy’) trauma. The World Health Organization ( WHO ) has quantified this as ‘forces equivalent to a fall from a standing height or less’. Hip fractures alone account for 1.8 million hospital bed days and £1.1 billion in hospital costs every year, excluding the high cost of social care.

Fragility fractures are most common in bones of the spine, wrists and hips. The risk of osteoporosis starts to increase in women after the menopause because their ovaries no longer produce oestrogen, which helps to protect the bones. People may also be at increased risk of osteoporosis because it runs in their family or because of the side effects of some medications such as steroid tablets or injections. Therapies and treatments are available to help prevent fractures in people with osteoporosis. Other factors can also put a person at risk of fractures: low body weight ( BMI <19), diet lacking in calcium and vitamin D, poor mobility, smoking, alcohol, diabetes, certain long term medications, especially corticosteroids.

Focusing on falls in your professional practice

Falls and fractures are a common and serious health issue faced by older people in England. People aged 65 and older have the highest risk of falling; around a third of people aged 65 and over, and around half of people aged 80 and over, fall at least once a year. Falling is a cause of distress, pain, injury, loss of confidence, loss of independence and mortality.

For health services, they are both high volume and costly.

In terms of annual activity and cost:

• the Public Health Outcomes Framework ( PHOF ) reported that in 2017 to 2018 there were around 220,160 emergency hospital admissions related to falls among patients aged 65 and over, with around 146,665 (66.6%) of these patients aged 80 and over
• falls were the ninth highest cause of disability-adjusted life years ( DALYs ) in England in 2013 and the leading cause of injury
• unaddressed fall hazards in the home are estimated to cost the NHS in England £435 million
• the total annual cost of fragility fractures to the UK has been estimated at £4.4 billion which includes £1.1 billion for social care; hip fractures account for around £2 billion of this sum
• short and long-term outlooks for patients are generally poor following a hip fracture, with an increased one-year mortality of between 18% and 33% and negative effects on daily living activities such as shopping and walking
• a review of long-term disability found that around 20% of hip fracture patients entered long-term care in the first year after fracture
• falls in hospitals are the most commonly reported patient safety incident with more than 240,000 reported in acute hospitals and mental health trusts in England and Wales

Core principles for health and care professionals

In general health and care professionals should:

• make themselves aware of the range of needs of individuals, communities and the population and the services available in the localities in which they work
• think about the variety of resources available in health and wellbeing systems, including people, data, written, and digital
• understand specific activities which can prevent, protect and promote in the areas of falls and fractures

Taking action

The National Falls Prevention Coordination Group’s Falls and fracture consensus statement advocates a whole system approach to prevention, which includes:

• risk factor reduction across the life-course
• case finding and risk assessment
• strength and balance exercise programmes
• healthy homes
• high-risk care environments
• fracture liaison services
• collaborative care for severe injury

Interventions can take place at population, community and individual levels.

If you’re a front-line health and care professional

Health and care professionals can have an impact on an individual level by:

• routinely asking older people about falls
• observing for deficits in gait and balance
• knowing how to recognise the signs of potential risk
• assessing potential risks, including medical conditions which might predispose a person to fall
• understanding the referral pathway to local services, that reduce fall risks
• reassuring individuals and their carers or families, that help is available to reduce the risk of falling
• supporting healthy ageing, including reducing exposure to risk factors such as physical inactivity and visual impairment, making every contact count and signposting eligible patients to NHS health checks
• providing up-to-date patient information on falls, such as Get up and go: a guide to staying steady from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists

If you’re a team leader or manager

Community health and care professionals, and providers of specialist services can have an impact by:

• considering their role in primary falls prevention and the messages given out about health behaviours
• encouraging people to stay active, get socially connected and get their eyes and ears checked regularly
• eat a healthy balanced diet, reduce alcohol intake and stay well hydrated to reduce the risk of falling – and improve outcomes if a fall happens
• developing links with local community providers
• displaying information in workplaces promoting physical activity benefits for adults and older adults
• promoting the importance of strength and balance exercise
• encouraging people to drink enough water, especially in hot weather to avoid dehydration
• ensuring that inpatient care is in line with national falls and fracture clinical guidelines and quality standards

If you’re a senior or strategic leader

Senior or strategic leaders should be aware of interventions at population level, which can include:

• understanding the local population – considering the proportion of older people, frailty prevalence, and the number of falls in the population
• reviewing the capacity and makeup of falls prevention services
• influencing relevant parties to support the development of local services – ensuring that falls prevention is a local health priority
• encouraging the use of established tools, such as those from Chartered Society of Physiotherapy ( CSP )
• considering the training needs of the workforce, and what action is needed to give all health and care professionals the knowledge and skills to identify the risk of falls for older people
• ensuring the promotion of physical activity is prominent within commissioned services
• exploring the intensity of exercise programmes
• promoting the importance and influencing the evaluation of strength and balance exercise programmes
• ensuring alignment of falls and fracture services with related services such as frailty

Understanding local needs

The Public Health Outcomes Framework ( PHOF ) focuses on 2 high-level outcomes:

• increased healthy life expectancy
• reduced differences in life expectancy and healthy life expectancy between communities

The PHOF includes indicators on emergency hospital admissions and hip fractures due to falls in people aged 65 and over.

Emergency hospital admissions due to falls:

• C29i – aged 65 and over
• C29ii – aged 65 to 79
• C29iii – aged 80 and over

Indicators on hip fractures in people aged 65 and over include:

• E13i – aged 65 and over
• E13ii – aged 65 to 79
• E13iii – aged 80 and over

Mortality rates from accidental falls can be found in the Health and Social Care Information Centre Indicator Portal .

The Sport England Active Lives Survey includes information on the activity levels of older adults. Between November 2019 and November 2020, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults aged 75 and over became less physically active, especially those with multimorbidity, due to the government requirement to stay at home and to shield.

Wider impacts of COVID 19 on physical activity, deconditioning and falls in older adults , published on August 2021, includes an estimation of the impacts of COVID-19 on physical activity and falls in older adults, and recommendations to mitigate these effects.

Measuring impact

As a health and care professional, there are a range of reasons why it makes sense to measure your impact and demonstrate the value of your contribution.

This could be about sharing what has worked well in order to benefit your colleagues and local people, or help you with your professional development.

The Everyday Interactions measuring public health impact toolkit provides a quick, straightforward and easy way for health and care professionals to record and measure their public health impact in a uniform and comparable way.

The falls impact pathway is recommended for health and care professionals to record and measure actions undertaken as part of routine care which impact on falls prevention.

Further reading, resources and good practice

Advice for patients and the public.

The NHS website has information and advice on falls prevention .

The CSP ’s Get up and go – a guide to staying steady is a 32-page guide for the public and patients on how to prevent falls, produced by Saga in partnership with the CSP and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities ( OHID ).

Age UK provides information and advice on falls prevention. RoSPA provides advice on how to make the home a safer environment. NHS Rightcare Falls and Fragility Fractures pathway (2017) NICE Impact Falls and Fractures. Royal Osteoporosis Society Clinical Guidance ‘A Safe Home’ provides information on preventing falls at home developed by NHS 24’s Scottish Centre for Telehealth and Telecare (SCTT). Spot the Hazard is a game about spotting falls hazards in the home.

The Active at Home booklet, updated in August 2021, provides practical guidance to older adults on home-based activities to maintain their strength and balance. It follows concerns that low levels of physical activity in older adults will lead to reduced fitness, resulting in loss of independence and need for care in the future.

The Keeping Well at Home guide, published in 2020, was produced by University of Manchester. It has been recently been updated to Keeping Well this Winter with tips and advice on keeping active and connected, staying safe and well, and managing our money and home.

The ‘Talking about Keeping Well this Winter’ film was made by older adults with tips on opening up a positive conversation on the doorstep or over the phone.

Watch the Talking about Keeping Well this Winter film

Better Health on the NHS website provides advice on healthy changes with free tools and support.

Professional resources and tools

OHID and the National Falls Prevention Coordination Group member organisations have produced a Falls and fracture consensus statement detailing key interventions, approaches to commissioning and the commitment to national support. It is accompanied by a resource pack which details resources relating to the key interventions and contains an additional section on frailty.

Specific guidance includes:

• Occupational therapy in the prevention and management of falls in adults: practice guidelines College of Occupational Therapists 2015
• Clinical guideline for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis National Osteoporosis Guideline Group 2017
• The management of hip fracture in adults NICE CG124 2014
• Osteoporosis: assessing the risk of fragility fracture NICE CG146 2017
• Falls in older people: assessing risk and prevention NICE CG161 2013
• Midlife approaches to preventing the onset of disability, dementia and frailty NICE NG16 2016
• Multimorbidity: clinical assessment and management NICE NG56 2016

Falls FAQs poster (PDF, 760KB), developed by the National Falls Prevention Coordination Group (NFPCG), is for care and residential homes to support staff to manage a fall that may require an ambulance.

Newcastle University has developed a free online falls prevention training course .

Strength and balance quality markers: supporting improvement (published July 2019) details the 7 quality markers for strength and balance exercise, suitable for use by local areas as criteria to help them carry out self-audits.

Quality standards

• Falls in older people NICE QS86 2017
• Osteoporosis NICE QS149 2017

Cochrane systematic reviews

• Interventions for preventing falls in older people in care facilities and hospitals
• Multifactorial and multiple component interventions for preventing falls in older people living in the community
• Exercise for preventing falls in older people living in the community

The Raising the bar on strength and balance: The importance of community-based provision report from the Centre for Ageing explains the models of delivery, issues and barriers of community ‘strength and balance’ programmes.

Good practice examples

The CSP ’s Get up and go – a guide to staying steady is a 32-page guide for the public and patients on how to prevent falls, produced by Saga in partnership with the CSP and OHID .

OHID ’s Everybody active, every day: an evidence-based approach to physical activity , published in 2014, is a physical activity strategy co-produced with over 1,000 partners including health and professionals, local authorities, research specialists, educationalists, charities and fitness experts.

The Royal College of Physicians’ National audit of inpatient falls , published in 2021, contains recommendations and resources aimed at reducing inpatient falls

Raising the Bar on Strength and Balance , Centre for Ageing Better, 2019.

Falls Management Exercise (FaME) toolkit (2020)

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Workplace Safety Facts and Statistics

Published: Mar 10, 2023 - Updated: Nov 10, 2023 by Richard O'Connor

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Workplace-related injury is shockingly high in the UK. And statistics from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) show that thousands of UK workers are injured or killed on the job every year due to preventable accidents. 

And hopefully, you're sitting down because 36.8 million working days were lost due to work-related illness and injury between 2021 and 2022! In total, a shocking 123 workers were killed in workplace accidents, and 565,000 were injured. 

So, employers need to be aware of the latest facts and statistics and take necessary steps to ensure the safety of their workers. 

This article explores critical workplace safety facts and statistics, with suggestions regarding how employers can create a safer work environment.

What is the most common cause of workplace accidents in the UK?

Slips, trips and falls are the most common cause of workplace accidents in the UK, accounting for over 40% of all reported non-fatal injuries. 

This is followed by: 

• Being hit by a moving object , including falling objects, machine/knife cuts, runaway trolleys 
• Falling from height : accounting for 26% of deaths in the workplace (mainly from ladders). 
• Manual handling : mainly injuries from lifting, carrying, or handling items, leading to back injuries, strains, or serious accidents. 
• Being struck by a moving vehicle , including pallet trucks and warehouse vans

Why are ladders so dangerous in the workplace?

Most ladder-related injuries are due to slipping from a rung or improper stabilisation.

When workers are up and down ladders all day, it's essential to mitigate the risks they face due to environmental factors. 

For example, most builders work outside in all weathers, and muddy boots and ladder rungs aren't always compatible. You can mitigate this risk by providing high-quality construction site matting so workers can wipe their feet before climbing ladders.

Additionally, appropriate training can help reduce the number of ladder accidents due to unstable footing. Learn the 1 to 4 rule of ladder usage , which helps users set their ladders up correctly for maximum safety.

How many workplace injuries are fatal in the UK each year?

According to the Health and Safety Executive, there were 123 fatal workplace injuries in 2021-2022 in the UK. This was a decrease of 22 fatalities from 2020-2021. 

The majority of fatalities (79%) were accounted for by five different types of accidents, which includes:

• Falls from height — 29 deaths
• Being struck by a moving vehicle — 23 deaths
• Being hit by a moving, flying or falling object — 18 deaths  
• Contact with moving machinery — 15 deaths
• Trapped after something collapsed or overturned — 14 deaths

In addition to employees who died in accidents, eighty members of the public were killed from workplace accidents. 

Which industry by sector has the most non-fatal injuries?

According to the HSE’s most recent Labour Force Survey, the industry sector with the most reported workplace injuries in the UK is agriculture, forestry, and fishing , with 4100 (per 100,000 workers) self-reported non-fatal workplace injuries between 2021/22. 

Construction comes second with 2880 (per 100,000 workers), and accommodation and food services third, with 2420 (per 100,000 workers). This is closely followed by the manufacturing sector, which accounts for around 23% of all reported cases. 

The industries with the most fatalities were agriculture , with 22 deaths , and manufacturing , also at 22. 

So which industry has the unenviable title of the UK's most dangerous industry to work in? The answer is Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing , which has the highest rate of fatal injuries . 

What is the most important factor in workplace safety?

The most crucial factor in UK workplace safety is the prevention of accidents and injuries. This includes:

• Identifying and managing risks associated with work activities
• Providing appropriate training and supervision
• Ensuring that machinery and equipment are properly maintained and used
• Promoting a positive safety culture within the workplace 

The HSE is the UK government's agency responsible for enforcing workplace health and safety regulations. It works with employers to improve safety standards and reduce the volume of accidents and injuries in the workplace. 

What are the 5 benefits of workplace health and safety?

There are many reasons to safeguard workplace health and safety. However, here are five of the biggest benefits of promoting a safety-first working environment:

• Reduced injuries and illnesses : By implementing effective health and safety measures, employers can help prevent workplace accidents and illnesses. This helps reduce the number of injuries and illnesses, which can lead to reduced absenteeism, lower medical costs, and increased productivity.
• Improved employee morale : When employees feel safe and secure in their workplace, it can enhance their overall morale and job satisfaction. This can increase employee engagement, improve teamwork, and higher productivity.
• Reduced costs : Workplace injuries and illnesses can be costly for employers in terms of medical expenses and lost productivity. Employers can help reduce these costs and improve their bottom line by implementing effective health and safety measures.
• Improved reputation : Employers prioritising workplace health and safety can improve their reputation as responsible and caring employers. This can help attract and retain talented employees and improve relationships with customers and suppliers.
• Compliance with regulations : Employers that comply with health and safety regulations can avoid fines and legal action, which can be costly and damage their reputation. By prioritising workplace health and safety, employers can ensure that they meet their legal obligations and protect their employees.

So, how do you prevent accidents in the workplace?

There are several measures a business can put in place to ensure a safer working environment for all employees. 

These include:

Anti-slip matting 

Slips, trips, and falls are the most common workplace injury, but you can overcome the causes with an appropriate risk assessment. 

Installing anti-slip matting , appropriate workshop matting , anti-slip tape , GRP nosing, and stair treads help prevent slips. And simple measures such as proper entrance matting help keep the working environment clean and safe.

Spillage control

Spills aren’t always preventable, especially in manufacturing environments, so it’s essential to have appropriate spill-cleaning kits on hand to address spills, leaks, and drips as quickly as they appear. 

Always ensure that your spill kit is appropriate for the required cleaning task — oil spillages need different cleaning products to chemical or water spills.  

Training is one of the best ways to minimise workplace accidents. Although many safety measures may seem like a case of simple common sense, it's essential to remind colleagues of the dangers they face. It's easy for workers to lose concentration, especially with repetitive tasks, which is when accidents happen. 

You can help your workforce maintain their concentration throughout their shift with anti-fatigue matting , which helps take pressure off the joints and limbs, especially during long periods of standing. 

Also, a regular safety refreshment course can pay dividends. Additionally, employees must handle machinery safely without taking shortcuts — reinforcing the safe operation of machinery will also prevent accidents and risks. 

Workplace Safety Facts and Statistics Summary

Workplace safety is a critical aspect of any business or organisation. By prioritising employee health and safety, employers can prevent workplace accidents and injuries and improve employee morale, reduce costs, and enhance their reputation. 

The statistics and facts we've explored in this article highlight the importance of implementing effective health and safety measures and promoting a positive safety culture within the workplace. 

So, employers must take proactive steps to identify and manage risks , provide appropriate training and supervision , and ensure that equipment and machinery are properly maintained and used . 

Ultimately, investing in workplace safety benefits both employers and employees, and it is a critical aspect of building a successful and sustainable business.

Get in touch , and we’ll be happy to help improve your workplace’s safety credentials. 

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Richard O'Connor is a Director at First Mats. He has deep knowledge in areas like Manufacturing, Warehousing, Marine, and Health & Safety. Richard's insights have been featured in well-known publications such as Bloomberg Business, The Sun, and Reader's Digest. His blend of industry expertise and passion for sharing makes him a sought-after voice in his fields.

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Slips, Trips, and Falls Statistics 2021

In 2019, 880 workers died from fatal falls in the workplace and 244,000 suffered from injuries that required days off of work.

With numbers this alarming, it’s no surprise that slips, trips, and falls can cost employers millions of dollars in insurance claims, threaten employee safety, and reduce productivity at work. Below we explore the alarming statistics and offer insights into how organizations can significantly reduce slips, trips, and falls.

How Common are Slips, Trips, and Falls in the Workplace?

Across all industries, slips and falls are the second most common form of injuries, causing workers to miss an average of 38 workdays per year . They also account for 36% of emergency room visits and 65% of lost workdays.

All of these accidents are discouraging to the workplace but can be prevented by first understanding what causes these incidents to occur.

How Do Slips, Trips, and Falls Happen?

Around 67% of falls happen on the walking level as a result of slips and trips. Slips could occur due to wet and oily surfaces, weather hazards, loose rugs, traction differences, and much more.

Trips often occur due to feet colliding with an object causing a person to lose balance and eventually falling. These can happen with obstructed vision, poor lighting, clutter, uneven surfaces, and more.

The remaining 30% of falls at work occur due to falling from an elevation such as ladders, stairs, and roofs.

Safety measures are of course in place, but accidents happen every day. Slips and trips should be prevented with the best of a company’s ability to protect their workers, prevent costly claims from insurance, and keep productivity on target for a company’s goals.

How Much Do Slip and Fall Injuries Cost Businesses?

According to the Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index, the total cost to businesses for workplace injuries and illnesses was almost $60 billion a year.

Keeping clients safe at your business is also a top priority. A customer injury at your site can not only result in expensive litigation but harm the reputation of your business, leaving long-term impacts on your bottom line. Businesses must do all they can in their power to provide the appropriate safety practices, training, equipment, and protocol in place to stop injuries from happening or effectively addressing said issue once it happens.

How AI Can Help Manage Slip and Fall Risk

While the above numbers are alarming, many solutions can be implemented to prevent these events from happening. Actuate AI is a smart camera technology that can be installed on any existing security camera hardware. The AI technology can detect a fallen person and alert security personnel in real-time so they can identify safety hazards as well as render assistance immediately if necessary.

With the power of Actuate’s video AI surveillance, businesses can be confident that they are protecting their workers and their bottom lines. If you would like to see how Actuate can accurately monitor your workplace in real-time, book a demo with us today.

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