Hairdressers are some of the most likely staff to suffer workplace accidents
Small business owners are 37 per cent more likely to workplace accidents on a Monday than on any other day of the week, according to new research.
As the buzz of the weekend draws to a close, it seems staff at smaller firms struggle at the start of the week just as much as other UK workers.
Small business owners are 26 times more likely to have workplace accidents on a Monday than a Sunday, with the risk of work-related accidents falling steadily as the week continues.
The study, carried out by leading UK small business insurer Simply Business, also revealed that workplace accidents and injuries at small companies had increased by 41 per cent over the last five years.
However, despite this long-term growth, last year saw the first drop in workplace accidents and injury claims in five years, demonstrating that small business owners may be becoming more cautious.
Commenting on the statistics, chief customer officer at Simply Business, Fiona McSwein, said that the rise in workplace accidents and injuries could be particularly damaging for Britain’s growing army of self-employed.
She said: For the self-employed, an accident at work can have huge implications. Whether it’s time away from work, or reputational damage, workplace accidents could potentially put a small business owner out of work.
The analysis revealed some surprising differences in safety levels amongst different trades and industries. Fitness instructors, for example, are three times more likely to have workplace accidents than bricklayers.
Dog walkers, kennel owners and pet shop workers are three times as likely to get injured at work than lorry drivers, whilst hairdressers and beauticians are seven times as likely to have workplace accidents than carpenters.
McSwein added: Even businesses that many would consider low-risk, such as hairdressing or dog walking, carry the risk of injury, and it’s particularly surprising when compared to manual trades like bricklaying or carpentry.
it’s highly encouraging to see the rate of workplace accidents and injuries starting to dip, it shows that small business owners are increasingly concerned about safety at work. However, no matter how careful small business owners are, we know that any work carries risks.
The ten UK cities where you’re mostlikely to suffer and accident or injury at work
Ranking – Likelihood to have an accident at work
City
1
Liverpool
2
Glasgow
3
Manchester
4
Birmingham
5
Bradford
6
Edinburgh
7
Leeds
8
london
9
Sheffield
10
Bristol
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