Every year in the UK, around 123 people sadly lose their life while at work. Figures just released by the HSE reveal that in 2022, falls from a height remained the number one reason for workplace deaths, with 29 workers dying during the last year alone due to having sustained a fall.
When it comes to health and safety at work, it’s not always a topic that’s taken seriously. However, in order for employees to return home safely to their families, proper procedures must be followed to reduce the risk of injury or death while at work, wherever a danger may be present.
Looking at falls in particular, here is the financial impact of having a fall at work, both from the perspective of the employer as well as the employee. Although safety is the bigger priority, the lasting impact, including the cost of no longer being able to work also needs to be considered.
The Cost Of Falls For Employees
How long does it take to recover from a fall? That all depends on how far you fall, what you hit along the way, how you land and what you land on. If you have any pre-existing conditions, including any previous injuries or even previous surgeries, the outcome could be even worse.
Minor falls may be nothing but a mention in an accident book. But as we know, the most serious falls can result in death. Life-changing injuries are also a high possibility if you sustain a fall, which could impact your ability to work. For those who are self-employed, or where the fault of the injury is not found to be with the employer – the financial implications can be devastating.
Sick pay – Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) in the UK currently stands at £99.35 per week, and can be claimed for a maximum of 28 weeks. If you have to claim sick pay due to a fall at work and it requires several weeks or months to recover, earning around £400 per month will be a significant pay cut, even for workers on the lowest wages.
The Cost Of Falls For Employers
Employers have a duty to protect workers under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. As part of this, regular workplace assessments must be carried out to identify and eliminate potential risks. You must also have the correct insurance, with employers’ liability insurance being a legal requirement to protect against accidents at work.
If an employee sustains a fall while at work and it is found that your company is liable, then compensation costs could run into the millions of pounds. The true cost depends on the nature of the incident, the level of disregard for health and safety, and the ongoing outcome for the worker and their family. Insurers are also unlikely to pay out if they find health and safety procedures haven’t been followed.
Another cost to the business is the reputation damage, especially given high profile health and safety breaches will become public knowledge, with the press also keen to report on such stories. The cost to the business in terms of lost business could actually be higher than any compensation payout.
How To Prevent Slips Trips And Falls In The Workplace
It’s clear that whether you are an employee or an employer, there is nothing to gain from having a flippant attitude to health and safety, especially when it comes to preventing falls in the workplace. This is especially the case when so many excellent fall protection and work access systems exist these days!
The first step in preventing slips, trips and falls in the workplace is to identify where such risks exist on your premises, and then put a plan of action in place to combat these risks. As well as consulting a health and safety officer, here at Metreel we can also provide your business with a wide range of fall protection and work access equipment.
Once your team is safe, they can give their full attention to the task at hand. Furthermore, we can also give advice on maintaining your workplace safety equipment over time, so that your team remain as safe as can be while on the job, all while improving efficiency and productivity too.
Learn more: Metreel fall protection case studies.
Fall Protection & Work Access UK – Metreel
Are your employees at risk of sustaining a fall while at work? Do you want to improve your workplace safety as a whole? If so, you’re in the right place as here at Metreel, we are fall protection and work access specialists.
Based in Derbyshire, we operate not just across the East Midlands but on a global scale. Please don’t hesitate to contact us to find out more about our equipment and custom solutions to prevent falls in your workplace.
You can also download our free brochure to discover more about our product specifications by visiting our product brochure page. If you’re ready to place an order or have any questions, please give us a call on 0115 932 7010 or email us at [email protected]