Workplace safety at a turbulent time for the UK
Our workplace injuries expert, Kevin Digby, reviews the government statistics for workplace safety at a turbulent time for the UK.
At present, any worker who experiences an accident at work cannot simply say ‘I have been injured at work and my employer should pay me compensation as they breached health and safety regulations’. This is because Section 69 of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 amended Section 47 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and changed how workers could sue their employers if they were injured at work. Previously the worker could rely on the breach of the regulations but now cannot and must show the employer must be shown to have been negligent.
The latest data on accidents at work in the UK offers key insights into how these changes may have affected the levels of workplace safety in the UK.
Fatal accidents at work
According to the latest reports from the Health and Safety Executive, the number of fatal accidents at work remains broadly level from 2008 onwards and consistent with pre-coronavirus levels.
The Health and Safety Executive also highlight which industries are the most risky for workers in the latest data. The following sectors account for the most fatal accidents at work each year:
- Construction
- Agriculture
- Forestry
- Fishing
These do not include the 14,526 estimated lung disease deaths each year caused by exposure to chemicals and substances at work. However, it is important to note that all of these high-risk sectors are key industries here in the South West, with busy working ports across Devon and Cornwall.
Work-related ill health
Work-related ill health was at its lowest recorded level in 2011/2012 but has steadily increased since. Rates of work-related ill health are now higher than pre-pandemic levels at a rate of 5,250 per 100,000 workers. This data encompasses things such as asbestos-related diseases, mesothelioma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). As per the law, workplaces are required to show a duty of care to employees and protect them from these possible health risks. Workers could therefore be entitled to compensation if they believe they are suffering from these diseases as a result of employer failings.
Non-fatal accidents at work
The Health and Safety Executive report also provides insights into the levels of non-fatal accidents at work and shows that the rate of non-fatal accidents at work is relatively consistent after a period of a downward trend. This data encompasses both a pre-defined list of injuries as well as those that result in more than 7 days of absence from work, such as new lung and skin diseases, the fracture of bones and serious soft tissue injuries.
60,645 non-fatal work injuries were reported by employers in 2022/23; however, this figure is notably less than the 561,000 injuries self-reported according to the Labour Force Survey. This indicates that a huge number of injuries are not being reported in accordance with RIDDOR and it seems no coincidence that the downward trend in non-fatal accidents at work has stopped at a time when changes in the law have stopped workers relying on breaches of regulations to show their employer was at fault.
What to do if you have been involved in an accident at work
The old ‘elf and safety’ joke has become tired. Workplace safety is an incredibly important issue and you should be able to go to work and come home safe at the end of the day, especially in dangerous employment sectors that we have here in the South West like maritime, fishing, construction, forestry, agriculture, waste and recycling.
However, the statistics show that workplace injuries remain commonplace in the UK and the issue will not be going away any time soon. If you have been involved in an accident at work, suffered a workplace injury or developed a workplace or asbestos-related disease, you should therefore speak to an expert as soon as possible. Our Plymouth-based team of personal injury and industrial disease lawyers have helped hundreds of clients secure compensation for work-related injuries and illnesses and can work quickly to help you make a claim.
Speak to our expert, Kevin Digby, today to see if you could recover compensation on 01752 242131 or email kevin.digby@GAsolicitors.com.
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