Data Shows Glasgow to be the UK’s Deadliest Place to Work

4 January 2022

where to find Glasgow work accident solicitors online The city of Glasgow has been found to be the deadliest place to work in the UK, with four other Scottish areas included in the top ten list. Glasgow work accident solicitors are often the experts who can ensure employees and their families receive the compensation they deserve if the accident wasn’t their fault. Personal injury claims in Glasgow can be brought if the accident was caused by another party’s carelessness or negligence, and their purpose is to ensure that the victim is compensated for their injuries and any financial losses they have suffered as a result.

In the latest figures released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Glasgow experienced 3.4% of all workplace deaths that occurred between 2015 and 2020. This is the highest percentage concentrated in any one city across the country.

Birmingham follows in second place with 2.58%, with Aberdeenshire in third at 2.46%. The Highland region and Aberdeen City took fourth and fifth place, with 2.21% and 2.09% respectively.

According to the HSE, the report took into consideration the percentage of related deaths that occurred in each local authority area across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Three in every 100 workplace deaths occurred in Glasgow, implying that more workers are at risk in that city than in any other place in the country.

The report also notes that men are five times more likely to die in the workplace than women. Eighty-three per cent of British workplace deaths were of males, with just 15% being female. Gender was not recorded in the remaining cases.

This generally reflects the type of industries men and women typically work in. Few women are employed in the construction and agricultural industries, yet building work and farming are among the most dangerous workplaces. Healthcare and manufacturing are also high-risk areas.

With this number of deaths in workplaces, the government emphasises the need for individuals in risky jobs and their employers to take all possible precautions. They also suggest strong consideration should be given to taking out life insurance to offer families security in the aftermath of a tragic accident.

Employers’ Responsibilities

However, by law, employers have a duty of care to their employees and are responsible to a large extent for keeping them safe from harm under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. As a minimum, employers must identify any potential causes of injury or hazards within their businesses. They should carry out detailed risk assessments to determine how likely it is that someone will suffer harm and how serious the risk is. They must then take action to remove the hazard entirely, or if possible, control and mitigate the risk.

When identifying the hazards, employers must inspect all areas of the workplace. This includes work processes and practices, and all equipment used in the work area, as well as checking the chemicals and other substances that are used or stored in the facility.

The general state of the premises should also be assessed to determine whether any hazards are present in the fabric, fixtures and fittings of the building or work area.

Another factor that should be considered is the history of injuries and accidents in the workplace. Finding common and obvious hazards that have proved harmful in the past are key to reducing risk. All non-routine operations should also be monitored, such as cleaning of equipment, changes made to production cycles, and maintenance of machinery and equipment.

For each hazard identified, it should be determined how employees, contractors, or members of the public and visitors could be affected or harmed. The nature of the workforce should also be assessed: are there any workers who could be considered particularly vulnerable to any of the identified risks? It is well worth engaging with employees too to seek their views, suggestions and opinions.

Once the risks have been identified, employers should determine the likelihood of an incident occurring as well as the potential severity of any injuries that could be sustained. They should take note of any steps that have already been taken to control the risks and further consider what else could be done to minimise the hazard. Follow through on the paper exercise by appointing people to carry out the action and employ the proper protocols when action needs to be carried out.

If the assessments show that the risk posed by particular hazards are too high, then employers must think of ways to eliminate them altogether. This may mean redesigning the job, replacing materials with safer ones, or changing the processes when using machinery. The way the work is organised should be changed if necessary to reduce the exposure to dangerous materials, processes, or machinery as much as possible.

Practical measures for work safety must be identified and implemented. This includes the provision of personal protective equipment for workers and taking steps to ensure workers wear it.

If the business employs five or more members of staff, all significant findings should be recorded, including the specific hazards, who among your employees may be harmed and how, and what steps you have taken to control the risks.

This record should be reviewed regularly to ensure that the controls you have put in place are still present and that they are effective. If they are not, then new ways must be found to manage the risks. Whenever there is a change in staff, processes, or chemical substances or equipment used, the employer should give consideration to revising work safety to take account of this.

If you think your employer didn’t do enough to control and mitigate the risks in your workplace, and as a result, you’ve suffered injuries needing medical attention, you should speak to a Glasgow work accident solicitor. An experienced personal injury lawyer will assess the circumstances surrounding your accident and advise you on whether they think you have good grounds for making a claim for compensation. Never agree on a settlement with your employer without consulting a legal expert first – you may not get the compensation you rightly deserve.

Employers are subject to common law and have responsibilities for the safety of their employees while in the workplace. Health and safety in the workplace are essential aspects of safe working, so employers can be held accountable if there is ignorance or breach of their responsibilities under law.

Solicitors can also help in a range of other employment matters, such as cases of unfair dismissal, discrimination, settlement agreements, and claims related to the Employment Tribunals and the Employment Appeal Tribunal. The law protects employers and employees alike to keep the workplace a safe and healthy working environment for productivity and security.

Trustworthy Accident Solicitors

For legal advice and assistance with personal injury claims in Glasgow, you can call on OJ Solicitors - Personal Injury Claims Glasgow. We are a professional and proven team of solicitors and have won many cases on behalf of our clients. We specialise in various aspects of the law, and we can guarantee we will do our best for you in any case that you bring us.

If you need help with your personal injury claim, our experts will be more than happy to help. Simply call us on 0141 587 7536 or send an e-mail to contact@oj-solicitors.co.uk for an initial discussion.