Accidents and injuries are unfortunately relatively common in the workplace. Fatal injuries are less common, but still occur, and are devastating for the families and co-workers of those concerned. Injuries also carry a separate cost for employers, who have to provide sick pay while workers are recovering. They may also need to find someone to fill the gap. The cost of fatalities to employers’ reputations is hard to estimate, but it is certainly not insignificant.

It is therefore important that employers take steps to make workplaces as safe as possible. However, employees also need to understand their role in improving workplace safety, and take steps to help the situation in their own workplace.

This page provides some tips on how everyone can help to improve workplace safety.

Workplace Safety in Figures

It is worth looking at the question of workplace safety—or rather, workplace accidents—in figures.

• In the UK in 2023–24, 138 workers were killed in work-related accidents, with the greatest number (50) from falls, followed by being struck by a moving vehicle (25).

• By far the greatest number of fatal accidents happened in the construction industry.

• Employers reported over 60,000 non-fatal injuries to employees in 2022–23 in the UK.

• However, figures for the same year from the Labour Force Survey suggest that the actual figure for non-fatal injuries could be as high as 560,000. This is around 1.5% of the total workforce—but of course some sectors are much more affected.

• The most common kind of non-fatal accident was slips, trips and falls (32%) followed by handling, lifting or carrying (17%).

• In the US, there were over 5,000 fatal work-related accidents in 2022, and over 2.5 million non-fatal injuries the following year.

Each of these injuries will have affected someone personally—and often their families and friends too. However, they also come with a huge cost to industry: around one-fifth of the UK accidents were estimated to require the worker concerned to take more than 7 days off work.

Tips to Improve Workplace Safety

These tips are designed to help workers to improve the safety of their workplace.

1. Always use tools and machinery safely, and in line with guidance

Employees and contractors should always be trained in how to use any specialist machinery.

However, this is only the start.

Once trained, it is up to employees to ensure that they are using the machinery safely, and in the way that they have been taught. There are two elements to this:

• If you don’t feel confident that you know what you are doing, you should ask for further training. This might mean asking one of your coworkers or supervisors to show you again, or it might require formal training.

• If you see someone using machinery or safety equipment incorrectly, you should alert them, and if necessary, tell a supervisor or manager.

It also follows that you should use all the safety gear provided, and in the correct way. You should also make sure that you keep up to date with any changes in policies or procedures, and change your behaviour to match the new approach.

2. Be alert to what is going on around you

One of the most important aspects of staying safe is being aware of what is going on around you.

This is particularly true if you are in a workplace that is intrinsically dangerous, such as a warehouse or building site. You need to be able to hear other people call or shout alerts, and see anything coming towards you. It follows that you should never wear headphones or listen to music in these environments.

However, there are other ways in which being alert to your surroundings can keep you and everyone else safe. For example:

• Noticing, marking and clearing up a spill can avoid someone slipping and falling over;

• Being alert to potential trip hazards such as loose cables can prevent accidents;

• Using the tools provided to lift heavy goods can prevent injury;

• Making sure that the emergency exits are not blocked could save lives if you need to evacuate the building or area;

• Labelling any hazardous materials could avoid individual harm or environmental damage; and

• Knowing where the first aid kits are kept, and who has a first aid qualification, could save significant time in the event of someone being injured.

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3. Report anything unsafe to supervisors

If you see something unsafe in the workplace—including both physical conditions and behaviour by others—you should report it to a supervisor.

This includes problems with or lack of safety gear and equipment, and also anything left lying about. Ideally, document your report, even if it is only by doing in by email or in a messaging app. This will ensure that there is a paper trail if anything happens.

4. Use good practice when lifting or carrying anything

There are recommended ways to lift and carry heavy, large or awkward loads, such as squatting down rather than bending over to lift.

You should always use these methods when lifting or carrying.

Similarly, use best practice when it comes to working at a computer. You are less likely to be seriously injured from sitting—but over time, strains can creep in.

If you have not been given information about these practices, ask for it or look for it yourself on the internet.

5. Always report any accidents or incidents, even if nobody is injured

Workplace accidents and incidents should always be reported.

Most employers have an incident book in which employees should record the details of the time, who was involved, and what happened. They should also include information about anyone who was injured. If you have an accident, you need to tell a supervisor or manager immediately, so that it can be recorded.

It is important to do this if someone is injured, as they may need to claim compensation (and workers who need to go down this route are advised to consult a lawyer such as a workers’ compensation attorney).

However, it is also important to record incidents even if nobody was injured.

This can help to identify potential safety issues in the workplace before anyone gets hurt—and may prevent future injuries or even deaths.

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And Finally...

All these actions can help to improve workplace safety.

However, the most important way to reduce accidents and injuries is for everyone to take shared responsibility for their own safety and the safety of those around them.

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