7 Of The Most Common Health And Safety Risks In The Workplace

Health and safety in the workplace is a significant concern for employers and employees. By creating a safe working environment for staff, businesses can protect their company, customers, and their team, and boost productivity and morale. 

In UK workplaces, there’s a long list of common health and safety hazards that occur in a wide range of industries. But while they’re common, they can cause serious harm to your team and significant financial damage to your business. Between 2019-2020, serious injuries and work-related ill health cost a total of £18.8 billion, according to HSE. 

Ensuring your business does everything to minimise risk and create the safest work environment is crucial. But keeping up with health and safety hazards can be a challenge — especially with everything else you need to do to run your business. Luckily, CHAS is here to help. 

As a leading risk management accreditor in the UK, we’re experts in all things health and safety. This guide will look at seven of the most common health and safety risks in the workplace and discuss ways that you can manage and mitigate these risks.

Most Common Health And Safety Risks In The Workplace

Slips, Trips And Falls

Slips, trips and falls are some of the most common causes of workplace injuries, such as broken bones, sprains and even death. These types of accidents can be caused by a range of hazards, including: 

• Wet surfaces
• Uneven floors
• Poor lighting
• Cluttered areas
• Inadequate safety equipment.

Employers must take steps to prevent these types of accidents from occurring both for the safety of staff and the general public. Here are some ways that employers can prevent this safety hazard: 

• Maintaining a clean and clutter-free work environment
• Providing adequate lighting in all areas of the workplace
• By ensuring all surfaces, floors, stairs and walkways are in good repair
• Providing adequate handrails and guardrails where necessary
• Ensuring that all staff wear appropriate footwear
• Training all relevant staff on properly using safety equipment and recognising potential hazards.

Ergonomic Injuries

Ergonomic injuries in the workplace can be a major safety hazard and cause pain, discomfort and physical limitations. These injuries are usually caused by performing tasks in awkward positions or with incorrect posture.

Poorly designed workstations are often the cause of ergonomic injuries. These injuries include: 

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Neck and back pain 
• Tendinitis 
• Rotator cuff injuries
• Trigger finger. 

Due to the nature of ergonomic injuries, much of the responsibility for minimising the risk falls on employees. But there are plenty of things employees can do to mitigate risk: 

• Assessing workstations regularly to identify any ergonomic issues and address them
• Providing ergonomic equipment and furniture
• Encouraging employees to take regular breaks from their work
• Provide employees with training on using workstations and equipment to reduce the risk of injuries.

Mental Health And Stress

Mental health and stress are increasingly common workplace safety hazards. In some cases, mental health issues can be present before entering the workplace, but often, stress can have a direct occupational cause. These causes can include: 

• Feeling overwhelmed by the workload
• Discrimination or harassment
• A toxic work environment.

Prolonged exposure to stress, whether at work or in other aspects of life, can lead to depression, anxiety and other mental health issues. 

Employers can support the mental health of their employees by: 

• Providing access to mental health resources. This can include counselling services or an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Encouraging employees to seek help if they are struggling with mental health issues
• Creating a supporting and respectful work environment that promotes mental well-being
• Training employees on managing stress and recognising signs of mental health issues.

By implementing the appropriate actions from above, employees can help to promote the mental health of their employees and create a positive and healthy work environment. 

Read our six-step guide on improving mental well-being in the workplace. 

Manual Handling Injuries

Manual handling is a prevalent safety risk in a wide range of industries — but particularly in construction health and safety. Manual handling injuries occur when employees lift heavy objects without proper lifting techniques or equipment. Common manual handling injuries include: 

• Strains and sprains
• Hernias
• Soft tissue injuries
• Chronic pain
• Back injuries.

According to the Health and Safety Executive, manual handling accounts for a third of workplace injuries. Employers can take steps to prevent manual handling injuries by: 

• Providing employees with adequate training on how to lift objects safely. This can include proper lifting techniques and equipment such as pallet jacks and forklifts.
• Ensuring that all equipment and tools are designed to reduce the risk of injury when handling them
• Providing employees with appropriate protective equipment. This can include gloves and back supports. 
• Encouraging employees to ask for health when lifting or handling heavy objects 
• Discouraging employees from attempting dangerous tasks on their own. 

Fire And Explosions

Fire hazards can be present in almost every working environment. While they are more prevalent in specific environments, they are still a risk in offices and storage facilities where the risk may seem lower. 

There are many potential causes of fires in workplace environments. Some common causes include:

• Electrical problems, such as overloaded circuits or damaged wiring, can lead to fires.
• Heating equipment, such as furnaces and boilers, can malfunction and cause fires if not correctly maintained or used.
• Smoking is a leading cause of fires in the workplace. It is crucial to follow designated smoking areas and to extinguish cigarettes properly.
• Spills or leaks of flammable or combustible chemicals can ignite and cause fires.
• Accidentally leaving equipment or appliances on, or improperly storing flammable materials, can also lead to fires.

Businesses are legally required to implement fire prevention measures and procedures to reduce the risk of fires in the workplace. These measures include: 

1. Ensuring all electrical wiring and equipment are adequately maintained and in good working order.
2. Ensuring that flammable materials are stored correctly and in designated areas away from heat sources.
3. Providing fire extinguishers and other fire suppression equipment in appropriate locations throughout the workplace.
4. Training employees on how to safely operate combustible materials they may encounter while on the job.
5. Creating an emergency action plan that includes evacuation routes and procedures in case of fire or other emergencies.

By taking these steps, employers can help prevent fires in the workplace and ensure that employees know what to do in an emergency.

Read our guide to workplace fire safety. 

Asbestos

Asbestos exposure is one of the most severe workplace health risks. While primarily associated with working in specific industries, such as construction or manufacturing, asbestos can be a hazard in various sectors. Asbestos fibres are released into the air when disturbed and cause respiratory issues if inhaled. These respiratory issues include: 

• Mesothelioma (a type of cancer)
• Asbestosis (a scarring of the lungs)
• Lung cancer.

To prevent asbestos exposure, employers should:

• Identify any asbestos-containing materials in the workplace and take steps to prevent workers from coming into contact with them.
• Provide protective gear, such as masks and respirators, to workers who may be exposed to asbestos.
• Implement appropriate work practices, such as wetting materials before handling them, to prevent the release of asbestos fibres into the air.
• Provide training to workers on the dangers of asbestos and how to safely work around asbestos-containing materials.

By doing the above, employers can help to prevent asbestos exposure and protect the health of their workers. It’s also important for employees to be aware of the dangers of asbestos and to follow proper safety procedures when working around asbestos-containing materials.

Learn more about asbestos awareness and training. 

Electrical Hazards

Electrical hazards are common in many workplaces due to the number of electrical devices used in all modern workplaces. These hazards can range from minor shocks to fatal electrocutions if left unaddressed properly by employers. 

Electrical hazards in the workplace include: 

• Electrocution occurs when an individual comes into contact with an electrical current and is killed or severely injured.
• Shocks occurring when an individual comes into contact with an electrical current and is temporarily incapacitated.
• Electrical burns occur when an individual comes into contact with an electrical current and suffers burns.
• Arc flashes are electrical explosions that can cause severe burns and other injuries.
• Electrical malfunctions or issues can lead to fires, which can cause injury or death.

To prevent electrical hazards in the workplace, employers should:

1. Regularly inspect and maintain electrical equipment and systems to ensure they are in good working order.
2. Provide training to employees on how to use electrical tools and equipment safely.
3. Ensure that all electrical equipment is used according to the manufacturer’s instructions and by trained personnel.
4. Use appropriate protective equipment, such as gloves or eyewear, when working with electrical equipment.
5. Ensure that all electrical wiring is properly installed and maintained.

By taking these steps, employers can help to prevent electrical accidents and create a safer work environment for their employees.

Ensure Your Business Is Safe With Health And Safety Training

In the UK, health and safety training is a legal requirement under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Health and safety training is an important part of the workplace. It teaches employees what to do to stay safe, giving them knowledge and awareness about safe practices in the workplace. 

Through this training process, employees learn how to identify and reduce risks, use correct procedures and protocols when performing tasks, and how to evaluate the environment for potential risks or hazards. 

Health and safety training is therefore useful for keeping everyone safe in the long run and can help to create a safer working environment for all. But health and safety training is an ongoing effort rather than a one-time event as best practices change over time, and we’re all liable to allow bad habits to creep in. 

Take the first step to improving health and safety standards in your organisation today by joining CHAS and achieving the Common Assessment Standard. When you become a member of CHAS, you’ll gain access to a range of materials, risk assessment tools, and nationally recognised accreditation programmes to mitigate risks. These cover 13 different areas of risk management — including health and safety — ensuring everyone is well protected in your workplace.