The Real Cost of Workplace Injuries

Workplace injuries can be costly, both in terms of the impact they have on employees and financial loss. In 2019/20. On average, each person who suffered a work-related injury took 9.1 days off work. Those suffering from work-related ill health took 20 days off work. Whether they are smaller or larger incidents, they cause a negative effect on the perception of your workplace and how safe your organisation is and how much care you have for your team, as for most people, their safety at work should be what is considered most paramount. By focusing on being committed to your the health and safety of all employees, you can not only reduce the risk of these accidents from happening, but also focus on the root cause of those that do manage to happen, therefore improving your employees and other stakeholders’ trust in you.

Here are some of the costs that can come as a result of being negligent to health and safety:

Direct costs:

Whether this comes as a result of compensation, medical bills such as physical therapy or anything else that comes as a result of the injury directly, they can easily mount up and cause a direct hit to your company.

Indirect costs:

Though you may not be able to see these straight away, they come as a result of workplace injuries, such as overtime pay to cover absent employees, training costs for replacement staff and investigations and other paperwork that comes due to the injury.

Trade offs:

Some other costs that are not necessarily financial ones include the cost of time, i.e. employees filling in for the injured staff or staff that may have left as a result of the injury. Morale cost is also big where employees lose motivation at a workplace they feel unsafe in and therefore are less productive. One could also consider reputational costs, whether this comes as a result of word of mouth, or even other news sources such as social media, depending on how large the injury is.

Preventing injuries means that your company can enjoy higher morale, greater productivity, and fewer disruptions, making safety not just a compliance measure but a strategic advantage. It makes a lot of sense both morally and financially to be secure and protected against workplace injuries and accidents, providing a real return on investment.

The most common workplace injuries:

Depending on what your company’s line of work is, some injuries are likely to be more common than the other. Despite this however, it is best practice to be prepared for all scenarios, as you can never know unless you properly assess, what your biggest risk might be. Here are some of the most common injuries in general, as per Waldron’s Solicitors.

Slips, trips & falls; these accounted for 30% of all non-fatal injuries in 2021/22, making them the most common type of accident; this may be because there is very few workplaces where this may not be a common hazard; whether it be excess stock, someone spilling their drink or just general negligence of trip hazards, they can effect anyone.

Falling objects: to combat trip hazards, people often decide that storing items on a shelf or anywhere with space that they can find will be a better alternative, however this is not the case. objects falling from a height can lead to a painful injury and it doesn’t always have to be a heavy object either. A light object falling with enough momentum from a height can still cause damage. Falling objects are not just a risk factor in warehouses or construction sites, either. Objects that haven’t been stored and secured properly on shelves or cupboards in offices can equally cause significant injuries.

Heavy lifting: lifting heavy objects at work can cause back or neck injuries, broken limbs, strained muscles and even heart problems. You could injure yourself from carrying an object in any workplace if you are not lifting with the correct techniques or equipment.

Loud noise exposure: though this may effect industrial workers the most, hearing damage is a common one to focus on, as you may be more likely to not consider the damage that work can do to your hearing, as it is more of a challenge long-term in general.

Burns: whether this is something extreme such as hazardous chemicals, or just faulty equipment in your canteen burns result in damage to your body’s skin tissue and while many are minor, some burns can result in life-changing consequences

Becoming ISO 45001 certified:

The steps for becoming a company who commits themselves to securing health and safety for their employees (by gaining the ISO 45001 certification) is as follows, and be assured that you will be helped across every step of the way.

1. Identifying your gap analysis; seeing how they compare against the current standards.

2. Receive implementation support; get guidance on how you m make the necessary changes.

3. Conduct your Stage One Assessment.

4. Perform an internal audit in preparation for your final assessment.

5. Stage Two Assessment; the main certification audit.

6. Get congratulated by Compliant and receive ongoing support to drive and maintain your improved standards!

Other ways of protecting your employees:

There are lots of other amendments and ways of improving your employees’ safety overall available, all of which can reduce your injury costs.

• Recognise trade unions and allowing them to organise in the workplace. Allowing your employees to speak to an independent body can be crucial in finding the root causes of problems, as your employees feel in a place where they can be supported in anything they may have health and safety concerns over; after all, they face the challenges directly.
• Provide workers with adequate health and safety training. Although this is a short-term financial cost, it is very much worth it. By getting the right training in place, your employees can be aware of any challenges they may face and the risk factors, therefore being better informed of how to prevent them. It can also motivate employees that it looks like you want to make a meaningful difference.
• Engage with staff health and safety representatives. This can promote a safety culture among your team, where everyone feels responsible for the health and safety of each other, and everyone wants to make a change in reducing workplace accidents.

Workplace safety is often viewed as an operational cost, but the reality is that it’s one of the smartest investments an organisation can make. A strong focus on injury prevention doesn’t just protect employees; it improves productivity, reduces costs, and creates a culture of trust and engagement. By following the steps outlined above, organisations can create safer work environments that save money and support long-term growth. Employers have a duty of care to protect their employee’s health, safety, and welfare. Employers must do whatever is reasonable to manage health and safety risks in the workplace.