Columnist

Injuries in the workplace

There are virtually limitless causes for accidents and serious injury – some that we can prevent and others we cannot. While many people are afraid of sharks, the fact remains that you are several times more likely to be injured on the toilet than you are by sharks. It is when you hear statistics like this that you realise that dangers are inherent in just about every part of life – but where are you most likely to sustain an injury? Is it in the office or out in the car?

At work

The one place where you are most likely to be a victim of an accident or injury is at work.

Despite the regulations of the 1974 Health and Safety in the Workplace Act, workplace injuries in the UK are still common and according to the Health and Safety Executive, 1.1 million people suffered a work-related injury or illness during 2011/12. A further 110,000 injuries were reported via RIDDOR.

Work-place fatalities amounted to 173 deaths while the amount of working days lost through work-related illnesses or injuries was approximately 27 million – costing an estimated £13.4 billion. Such figures cover those who work both in the office and outside, so it seems as though there really is no one place where you are safer than another.

On the sports field

Whilst figures can be difficult to evaluate due to the number of variables involved, in 2005, a report by Barclays Spaces for Sports claimed 30 per cent of the British population sustained 22 million sporting injuries every year, with the average participant suffering 1.65 injuries annually. Over exertion and lack of preparation were unsurprisingly the main causes, although third party contact and difficult surfaces were also highlighted as risk factors and sufferers could take up to five days off for their recovery.

On the road

Another place where accidents and injuries commonly occur is on the road. The severity of the accident will vary depending on the situation, but car accidents can be serious due to the speeds and force involved.

Whilst the number of accidents might be going down, motorcyclists are still far more likely to be seriously injured or killed on our roads. Making up one per cent of road traffic, bikers are responsible for one fifth of deaths and serious injuries on the road with 362 biker deaths in 2011 (down ten per cent in 2010) and 5,247 injuries (up ten per cent).

It’s not just those on motorbikes who are at greater risk though – other two-wheeled road users also sustain their fair share of injuries. Data for cyclist injuries reported 970 deaths or serious injuries in the three months preceding September 2011, which is 65 more than those in 2010.

Addressing the risks

If you have been injured at work then you may be entitled to compensation if the accident was not your fault. Contact injury specialists like Injury Lawyers 4 U to find out more and check your eligibility for a claim.

Sources:

http://nottheworstnews.com/2013/02/11/youre-more-likely-to-get-injured-by-a-toilet-than-bitten-by-a-shark/ ; http://www.bikelawyer.co.uk/bike-accident-statistics ; http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2012/feb/02/road-accident-statistics-cyclists ; http://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Peter Rivers .