4 of the most common workplace hazards and how to mitigate them

As a business, you have a duty to keep your people safe, which is usually underpinned by health and safety laws such as the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. Workplaces can pose various health and safety hazards and specific risks can vary depending on the industry and nature of the work you undertake. However, some risks overlap most industries and can be applied to all workplaces, such as the rising issue of mental health.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reported that workplace injuries and illnesses cost the UK £20.7 billion in the year 2021-2022, impacting over 1 million workers¹. Ensuring you do everything you can to minimise risks exposed to your employees’ health and safety is crucial for any business by preventing accidents and boosting productivity – and knowing what common things to look out for is a good place to start.

1. Stress and mental health

In 2020-21, poor mental health cost UK employers up to £56 billion a year². According to HSE, over half of working days in the UK are lost due to work-related stress, depression or anxiety, and these are the three main reasons for work-related illness, with figures continuing to rise³.

You can ease the pressure of lost work days and boost staff wellbeing by providing your employees with access to mental health support and resources. Workplace health and wellbeing benefits such as Private Medical Insurance ensure that you can fulfil your business needs and the needs of your people. By offering a great working environment and tools to support your people, you’ll create a culture where your employees feel highly valued and motivated to bring their best selves to work each day.

2. Slips, trips and falls

Last year, there were over 60,000 non-fatal work-related injuries reported by employers. The Labour Force Survey (conducted by self-reports) estimates this total to be much higher - at over 500,000 incidents. 32% of employer-reported non-fatal injuries occurred due to slips, trips or falls – which is the largest category⁴.

You should conduct a workplace risk assessment to establish how slips, trips and falls can be prevented and how hazards should be identified. Keeping floors clear of wires, objects and slippery surfaces is important and should be communicated to all staff.

3. Fire and electrical hazards

Most fires are preventable, with the proper controls in place, however there are still 22,000 fires in workplaces around the UK each year⁵. A fire risk assessment can help you identify weak points in your fire safety strategy such as potential sources of ignition, extinguishers or smoke detectors that need servicing and what flammable substances are present on site. Based on the findings of the assessment, employers need to ensure that adequate and appropriate fire safety measures are in place to minimise the risk of injury or loss of life in the event of a fire.

In the year 2022-2023, the biggest cause of non-deliberate workplace fires was faulty or incorrect use of electrics⁶. Staying up to date with PAT testing every year as standard and training staff on proper use is vital for businesses to reduce their risk of electrical fire.

4. Manual handling and ergonomics

Many workplaces are unaware of problems with their manual handling processes or work environment until there is an incident or injury⁷. By then, you may have encountered a personal accident claim, with severe musculoskeletal injury compensation payouts potentially costing your business up to £160,000⁸.

Reducing the risk of manual handling injuries for your employees involves implementing training and risk assessments to ensure they use the correct and safe techniques when moving heavy loads. You should also provide tools and equipment where necessary, especially when employees are moving loads that exceed individual capability.

Conducting workstation assessments is also important to ensure that your employees are comfortable using display screen equipment (DSE) as part of their role⁹. Workers must have reasonable adjustments made to their environment if they request such, including the provision of ergonomic chairs, mice, display equipment or wrist rests, amongst other adaptions.

There are many other risks, some more specific to occupation (such as industrial contexts) that companies need to be aware of and manage in order to keep employees safe. NFP can provide you with sensible and straightforward risk management and heath and safety solutions to help your business thrive whilst complying with the law.