The six workplace hazards your business can’t afford to ignore

A total of 604,000 employees sustained a non-fatal injury at work, according to self-reports from the Labour Force Survey in 2023/24. Of these, 127,000 employees took more than seven days off work as a result. These striking figures show just how important it is for businesses to ensure every member of staff undergoes thorough training and that risk assessments are carried out at regular intervals to ensure any potential workplace hazards are minimised. Because absences due to injury don’t just harm the individual employee, they have the potential to harm your business too.

But what sort of hazards should employers be looking out for? The Occupational Health experts at YourGP reveal the six key hazards your business simply can’t afford to ignore.

1. Ergonomic

The design of your workplace, individual workstations and operating equipment can have a huge impact on your employees’ health. Repetitive actions or working in awkward positions for extended amounts of time can lead to musculoskeletal issues and injuries. To avoid such problems, keep a close eye on recorded injuries, review past assessments, and speak to the employees themselves to find out how comfortable they are performing tasks. Identify any potential risks and make adjustments where necessary, such as providing alternative equipment or modifying work processes.

2. Chemical

Ensure every employee is made fully aware of any substance that has the potential to cause harm. These can include anything from cleaning products to manufacturing materials. Make sure all members of staff also know what to do if they come into contact with a hazardous substance – how to treat it and who to inform, for example.

3. Physical

Exposure to physical conditions or forces such as noise, vibrations, electricity, radiation, heights, confined spaces or extreme temperatures has the potential to cause serious injury or illness. Be proactive about identifying such risks, provide comprehensive safety training and personal protective equipment (PPE), and carry out regular inspections to minimise any risks.

4. Biological

Exposure to certain living organisms or biological substances can cause disease or infection. Bacteria, viruses and mould are just some examples of potentially harmful biological hazards. To minimise risk, it is important to invest in quality PPE and maintain good hygiene practices, such as regular handwashing, surface cleaning and disinfection, and safe waste disposal.

5. Psychological

As well as safeguarding the physical safety of all employees, it is just as important to look after the mental and emotional wellbeing of all staff. That means minimising factors such as stress, and providing protection against issues such as violence and harassment. To do so, it is important to monitor absenteeism, presenteeism and employee turnover to help to identify emerging issues. It is also vital to foster a supportive environment – one that encourages open communication. And finally, it helps to promote a healthy work / life balance.

6. Safety

Safety hazards relate to issues that have the potential to cause injury or even death, such as slips and falls or equipment malfunctions. To reduce the risk of workplace accidents, keep the space clean and well organised, ensure there is clear signage, and make sure all accidents are recorded accurately and improvements are made, where possible.

Speak to the Occupational Health experts at YourGP

If you’re interested in finding out more about ways to protect the health and wellbeing of your team, speak to the experts at YourGP about our wide range of corporate and occupational healthcare services. We’d be happy to tailor a package to your unique business needs. Simply call 0131 225 5656 or email occhealth@your.gp to make an appointment.