The three most common workplace accidents in Scotland – and what workers need to know

Falls, including those from height, being crushed by an unsafe object and accidents involving faulty machinery or equipment you haven’t been trained to use should not be happening in Scottish workplaces. 

But they are.

The latest figures from the Health and Safety Executive found every year 40,000 people across the country are involved in a non-fatal workplace accident. 

Behind every accident there is a person and a family who are left to navigate the consequences of an injury. 

It can have a huge impact on all areas of life including time off work and loss of earnings. 

Some of the most common accidents at work are preventable and all employers need to make sure they are doing everything to keep their staff safe. 

Slips, trips and falls

Slips, trips and falls are the most common injuries to happen at work according to the figures from the Health and Safety Executive.

Often workers will blame themselves for not looking where they were going, but it’s not always your fault. Wet floors, uneven surfaces, trailing cables and poorly maintained walkways all create hazards. 

Falls, whether they are from height or on a bit of uneven ground, can result in serious injuries. Before a worker steps onto scaffolding, a roof or a raised platform, employers must assess the risks and make sure suitable safety measures, equipment and training are in place.

Ryan Thomson was working as a roofer when he fell more than fifty feet to the ground. 

He needed emergency surgery for a ruptured spleen as well as treatment for multiple fractures.

Our solicitors found that if his employer had carried out a risk assessment into the changes to the working environment and appropriate checks had been made, then his accident may have been avoided. 

John was a plumber working on a construction site when he suffered a career ending injury when he tripped over a rope that was used to secure a fencing panel to a nearby scaffold.

It was meant to create a break in the perimeter and workers could access the site, but when a small skip was placed on top of the rope it became tight, resulting in a trip hazard.

David Wilson, Partner in our Glasgow office, found there had been shortcuts made in health and safety practices which caused the hazard. 

Crush injuries and accidents involving machinery

Crush injuries can happen in any workplace, but if you work with machinery or have job that involves manual handling then there is a higher chance you might be crushed or hit by a moving object. These accidents can cause serious and sometimes life-changing injuries.

Fiona McCall was working at a bakery in the Borders when the machine she was using malfunctioned and crushed her hand. 

Her fingers were so badly broken and burned they had to be amputated.

She was able to get physiotherapy, prosthetics and fair compensation for her injuries after Catriona Headley, Partner in our Edinburgh office took on the case.

Her employer had a legal duty to ensure all machinery was in working order and safety protocols were in place. 

He admitted health and safety failings and was fined by the Health and Safety Executive. 

Despite many workers wearing hard hats and hi vis the construction industry has one of the highest rates of non-fatal accidents. 

Josh McNulty had just arrived at work when he was injured on a construction site when a colleague working above him dropped a metal gate which landed on him.

Luckily, he was wearing his hardhat so it didn’t crack his skull, but when it ricocheted off the ground it him on the face leaving him with a cut which needed hospital treatment.

He was signed off work for weeks.

His employer tried to argue Josh was partly to blame for his injuries, but evidence gathered by Damian White, partner in our Glasgow office proved this wasn’t true and secured him fair compensation.

Faulty PPE and lack of training

Inadequate protective clothing and unsafe working practices can expose employees to unnecessary risks. By law employers must provide their staff with the correct safety equipment to carry out their work safely. 

That can include protective gloves, boots and tools designed to reduce the risk of injury. If you need to use machinery and tools to do your job then your employer must give you training to make sure you can carry out tasks safely. 

If this isn’t done and you are crushed by machinery or hurt, your employer might be deemed responsible for causing your injury.

Kevin Margery suffered a serious shoulder injury at the factory where he worked while attempting to change a part on a machine.

Our solicitors in Glasgow found his employer had failed to give him the proper training to carry out this task. 

If they had given appropriate training he wouldn’t have attempted to change the part and wouldn’t have been injured.

Harris Yost had just started a new job at a garage in Fife when he suffered second degree burns after acid spilled on his feet.

Investigations carried out by Fiona Bisset from our Kirkcaldy office found not only had his employer failed to carry out risk assessments to ensure safe working practices, they also failed to give Harris the right PPE to protect him.

What should you do after an accident at work?

It can be incredibly upsetting for you and your family if you’re injured in an accident at work. 

One of the first things you should do is seek medical attention if you need it – even if your injury appears minor - and report the incident to your boss.

Your employer is legally required to keep an accident logbook which records any accidents and injuries to help them comply with health and safety legislation.

You should also keep evidence of what happened which can include:

• Photographs of the accident scene
• Witness details
• Correspondence with your employer
• Any loss of wages
• Details of your injury

If you think your accident could have been avoided then independent legal advice can help you understand your rights and whether compensation may be available. 

Keeping Scottish workers safe

An accident can happen in any workplace at any time but that doesn’t mean employees should accept they might be hurt.

It is unacceptable in the modern age that some employers still cut corners when it comes to the health and safety of their staff.

Employers must take the safety of their workforce seriously by making sure they have the right procedures in place, all equipment is properly maintained and meets the correct safety standards.

If you have been injured because your employer failed to take reasonable steps to protect you, you may have grounds to pursue a workplace accident claim.

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Ryan Smith, Partner