Surprisingly, there is a multitude of workplace accidents in the UK every year. From trips, slips and falls, to accidents involving vehicles, a wide range of injuries simply go unnoticed. But some industries have much higher accident rates than others. Read through our article below to find out if your industry is one of the most hazardous in the UK today.
Driving Jobs
Sadly, one fifth of all workplace fatalities involve a vehicle, making industries such as manufacturing and logistics particularly hazardous. In 2017, 1710 people died in road traffic accidents in the UK, and most accidents occurred on a motorway.
Approximately 40 HGV drivers have died in road accidents over the past six years, and this number is only expected to rise. Long hours, exhaustion, and long-distance driving are all risk factors that can easily lead to devastating accidents.
Refuse Collection
With the average waste disposal technician earning just £17,600 per annum, this is the lowest paid sector on our list, yet people who are employed in waste or refuse collection are highly likely to experience accidents and even fatalities.
Many refuse collectors get injuries when they slip or trip, come into contact with faulty machinery, or get struck by moving vehicles or heavy objects. With so many hazards and risks, there’s no wonder waste disposal is one of the most dangerous industries the UK today.
Engineers
Although the average civil engineer earns around £39,000 every year, their high wage comes at a significant cost. Civil engineers are likely to be injured or even killed in accidents involving heavy machinery or vehicles, making engineering one of the most dangerous industries in the country.
What’s more, civil engineers often work at a height, use explosives to demolish buildings, work over water, and even operate underground when they plan tunnelling projects. All of these factors often make their working environments hazardous, and if proper health and safety procedures are not in place, accidents can easily happen.
Working in Agriculture
Few people think about farmers and the difficult lifestyle they have. But aside from the difficult hours and the tough weather conditions, farming is also a hazardous industry to work in.
Not only do vehicles and heavy machinery pose a threat, animals can also be dangerous to work with. In fact, farm animals have been responsible for 29 workplace deaths over the past six years. From biting, kicking and trampling, to spreading diseases such as giardia, salmonella and ringworm, animals pose a very real threat to farmers every day.
In addition to this, they often work with tractors, chainsaws, power take-off shafts, augers, and many other pieces of machinery to help them complete their day-to-day tasks. If any of the machinery is faulty, or exhaustion and burnout causes the farmer to overlook key health and safety procedures, accidents can quickly occur.
The Construction Industry
Building sites are often hazardous places to be. Falling objects, working at a height, operating heavy machinery and using dangerous tools can all cause accidents, so it isn’t surprising that 20% of all workplace deaths in the UK happen on building sites.
To try and avoid accidents like these, it is important to make sure that all workspaces are tidy, this means that all tools and equipment should be safely stored away when they are not in use, so that workers cannot trip over them and objects cannot fall from a height. Scaffolding and ladders should also be regularly checked – they can both shake and sway in bad weather – so they must be as sturdy as possible. Finally, tools and machinery should always be checked to make sure they are working properly – if workers use faulty equipment – they could easily be injured.
Gas and Electricity Installation
Working in the utilities industry is highly lucrative and busy – everybody needs a plumber or an electrician. But working in such a fast-paced sector comes at a cost. 26 deaths occurred in the UK over the past six years whilst workers were installing gas or electricity supplies.
Exposure to live electricity lines, fire from faulty electricity parts, and injury from exposure to arcing, are all prominent hazards in the electrical industry. People working in the gas industry are also at risk of being exposed to leaks, carbon monoxide and even explosions. With so many prominent risks posing a threat to workers every day, it is clear that the utility industry can be highly dangerous.
Vehicle Maintenance
Vehicles often cause injuries and fatalities in the UK, so it shouldn’t be a surprise to learn that people who work in vehicle maintenance and repairs are at risk of suffering from injuries when they are at work. In fact, 20% of UK workplace deaths involve a vehicle in one form or another, so the vehicle repairs industry is often seen as highly dangerous.
People working in roadside vehicle recovery in particular are at risk of being hit by oncoming traffic. What’s more, those who work in garages can often be struck by falling objects, suffer from slips or trips, and they can be struck by moving vehicles, too.
Joinery and Decorating
Joiners and painter decorators can always find work helping customers to improve their homes, but they often have to work at a height. This means that they are highly likely to suffer from injuries when they slip, trip or fall.
What’s more, joiners and decorators often work with dangerous solvents, which are infamous for being highly flammable – so it is important to take care when using them. Using personal protective equipment is especially important in this industry. If equipment like googles and masks are used regularly, it is far less likely that workers will inhale toxic fumes.
Roofers
Similarly to joiners and painters, roofers also have to work at a significant height, leaving them vulnerable to falls. Whether they are working on scaffolding or climbing over rooftops, they could slip and fall at any time.
Roofers should be especially cautious when they are working on older, more frail buildings. Rooves can often collapse, especially if they are not structurally sound. However, with proper training, supervision and safety equipment, working as a roofer can be much safer.
Does any of this sound familiar? Have you suffered form an accident at work recently? If you have, it is always important to seek legal advice and find out if you can get compensation. Contact us today, or find out more about health and safety at work to see if you could make a claim.