Recent data reveals a troubling trend in workplace safety reporting.
- Nearly two-thirds of workers have experienced unreported accidents.
- A lack of awareness contributes significantly to non-reporting.
- Human health and social work activities lead in unreported injuries.
- Agricultural industry ranks highest in injuries per 100,000 workers.
In a significant finding, Simpson Millar’s data indicates that almost 64% of workers have encountered some form of workplace accident that remains unreported. The underlying reasons for this troubling trend vary, but the impact on workplace safety is undeniable. Only 36% of workers have taken the step to report workplace accidents. This statistic suggests a broader issue within workplace safety culture, where many employees opt to withhold information about accidents.
A staggering 31% of employees reported that they ‘never thought to report’ their accidents. This highlights a cultural or informational gap that could potentially inflate the actual number of non-fatal injuries in the UK beyond the reported 561,000 annually. Various reasons influence this non-reporting behavior, including unawareness of the injury at the time and uncertainty about the reporting process.
46% of workers do not know how to report an accident at work. This lack of information can lead to a failure to report incidents, thereby denying affected workers the support they might need. While more than a quarter of employees understand where to report an accident, these figures emphasize the necessity of comprehensive workplace training and clear communication channels.
Data from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reveals that certain industries see a higher incidence of non-fatal injuries. The human health and social work sectors report the highest number of such incidents, followed by manufacturing and transportation sectors. However, when assessed on a per capita basis, the agricultural sector emerges as the most hazardous, recording 246 non-fatal injuries per 100,000 workers, far exceeding other industries.
Just behind agriculture, the water supply and waste management sectors report 216 non-fatal injuries per 100,000, underscoring the need for targeted interventions in these high-risk areas. Meanwhile, industries like human health and social work, though reporting the largest total number of injuries, stand at 59 per 100,000, illustrating differing risk levels across sectors.
The findings underscore the urgent need for improved workplace safety reporting mechanisms and education.
