Warehouse worker injury highlights risk of workplace accidents

A worker at a textile retailer was injured after falling from an unguarded platform onto the concrete floor at the company’s warehouse. The man suffered from a broken leg from the fall and then his ankle was crushed after a board fell onto it. He also received bad bruising to his face.
High risk of workplace accidents for tree surgeons unless precautions taken

The dangers of working as a tree surgeon are numerous. There have been more than 350 workplace accidents involving tree surgeons in the last 3 years. The key causes of these accidents are from chainsaws, falls from height and workers being struck by falling timber / trees. There are hazards at almost every stage of a tree surgeon’s work so it is essential that precautions are taken to ensure safety.
Electricians risk shock of accidents in the workplace

Electricians necessarily work with electricity, which can result in very serious injuries. Injuries caused by contact with electricity can include electric shock, electrical burns, loss of muscle control and thermal burns.
Road maintenance workers risk accident in the workplace

A road maintenance worker was killed on the M4, whilst crossing over to the central reservation to collect traffic cones. He was employed by a private company, hired to remove cones from the motorway after re-surfacing work had been completed.
Cactus causes workplace accident and nearly blinds worker

A maintenance worker in Milton Keynes was injured by a cactus in a shopping centre. His role included general maintenance work, including pruning plants. Whilst he was pruning a 30ft cactus, he was squirted in the right eye by sap.
Workplace accidents high in manufacturing industry and higher in recycling industry

The manufacturing industry can be dangerous and there is a high risk of workplace accidents, compared to some other industries. A recent example comes from a dairy company in Aberystwyth who were fined £3,250 and ordered to pay costs of £2,673 after a worker was hit by a forklift truck at the company’s factory.
Office workers risk accident in the workplace without proper precautions

The risks of working in an office may not be immediately apparent but there are various factors in the office environment that may cause an accident in the workplace.

Warehouse worker injury highlights risk of workplace accidents
Dec 02, 2010
High risk of workplace accidents for tree surgeons unless precautions taken
Dec 01, 2010
Electricians risk shock of accidents in the workplace
Dec 01, 2010
Road maintenance workers risk accident in the workplace
Dec 01, 2010
Cactus causes workplace accident and nearly blinds worker
Dec 01, 2010
Workplace accidents high in manufacturing industry and higher in recycling industry
Oct 26, 2010
Office workers risk accident in the workplace without proper precautions
Oct 26, 2010

Construction Accident

Published on Sep 22

Construction accident risks are higher than any other land-based work in the EU. Recent Eurostat figures highlight the danger: nearly 13 workers per 100,000 will die each year in a construction accident, compared to the national average of 5 per 100,000.

Despite good industry awareness about common hazards and risks, the nature of construction work can make it difficult to control the danger. Risk assessment is difficult in a building site, as the landscape is always changing. New hazards can develop at a moment’s notice – and many can be deadly.

A construction site also has a high number of ‘contract’ workers – specialist workers brought in for a few days. Keeping everyone informed of the most serious risks is a demanding task. Even with the best intentions, mistakes can happen. Many workers and members of the public suffer from serious injuries as a result of a construction accident.

Construction accident hazards:

Falls from height
Excavation accidents
Electrocution
Heavy machinery
Motor vehicle crashes
Being struck by falling objects.

Hazards which can lead to chronic illness:

Asbestos
Solvents
Dust
Noise
Vibrations
Manual handling activities

Falls from height

The most common type of construction accident involves a fall from height (over 2 metres). Falls from height are a leading cause of workplace injury across the UK. For construction workers, the risk of a fall from height is twice the UK average.

Most construction work takes place above the ground – and increasingly in city environments, workers on skyscrapers can be hundreds of feet in the air.

Falls from height are often caused by trips and slips. Ladders are involved in the majority of construction accidents. Broken ladders kill several workers in the UK each year.

Other construction accident hazards

Ramps, runways and other walkways
Hoist areas
Holes
Leading edge work
Unprotected sides and edges
Overhand bricklaying
Roofing

Accidents involving members of the public

Non workers can also be injured in a construction accident, sometimes fatally. Members of the public are at less risk than construction workers, but the hazards they encounter are often unpredictable and caused by poor health and safety.

Many members of the public are injured by trips and slips, especially on construction sites in urban areas where hazards are unexpected.

Hundreds of construction accidents happen each year because warning signs about dangerous hazards are missing or damaged. Members of the public have also been injured by falling objects and collisions with motor vehicles; especially lorries reversing from the construction site.