In the UK, workplace accidents remain an ongoing problem. While progress has been made in recent decades, the figures are still sobering. According to the HSE, more than 65,000 workers per year suffer an injury severe enough to report under RIDDOR. More than thirty-eight million working days are lost each year, at a cost of more than sixteen billion.
Some industries, to be sure, are more hazardous than others – and those working in them will need to take special precautions in order to avoid risk. Employees which feel that their safety hasn’t been taken seriously can take legal action in pursuit of damages. Let’s take a look.
Waste collection
Those collecting waste are exposed to a wide range of chemical and biological hazards, often without any protection whatsoever. Refuse collectors should be apprised of the risks and how to handle them.
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
Farming is officially the most dangerous industry in the UK, according to research from job-site Adzuna. More than 167 deaths occurred on farms between 2010 and 2016. Many of these can be attributed to the machinery being used – but the livestock, too, poses a problem. The average cow weighs more than six-hundred kilograms, and thus poses a threat even to experienced farmhands.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing covers a wide range of businesses. Where problems arise, they tend to come about as a result of industrial machinery. Of course, things have come a long way since the Victorian era – but higher standards of safety mean little if those standards aren’t adequately enforced. Factories should conduct frequent risk-assessments, identify the likely sources of danger, and take action accordingly.
Construction
The average construction site is bristling with would-be hazards. Sharp blades, hammers, falling objects, hazardous materials; all of them pose a threat to life and limb if handled improperly. These problems can be guarded against through constant vigilance, and through the right PPE. Hard hats should be enforced – but so too should other measures. Scaffolding poses a particular problem, especially if it’s not inspected. Appoint a specific person onsite to be responsible for this task, and make sure that inspections are carried out frequently.
Lorry Driving
Those driving lorries are at risk of suffering collisions. But perhaps as dangerous as that are the more chronic lifestyle factors. Sitting in one position for hours a day can lead to postural problems; service station food can wreak havoc on the digestive system; chronic sleep deprivation can raise the risk of an accident still further.