The study, which asked over 300 tradespeople about the impact of workplace injuries and illness, found that the most common causes of workplace injuries for tradespeople, with 44% of tradespeople reporting that “faulty equipment or tools” was the reason for their injuries in the workplace, whilst other reasons given were “Lack of PPE” (38%) and “Poor safety regulations on site” (36%).

The most common causes of workplace injuries to tradespeople 

41% of respondents who had experienced an injury reported that it was a result of a third party (such as a coworker), while a fifth of respondents reported not always taking the necessary health and safety measures at work, potentially putting themselves at risk of harm. 

The study also found that head injuries and concussions are the most common injuries sustained by tradespeople, with over a third (37%) of respondents having experienced this in their line of work.

The second most common injury was minor broken bones, including fingers or toes, which 33% have experienced.

Whilst this type of injury isn’t usually a cause for concern, in manual skilled trades, it can significantly impact the ability to work, which in turn leads to a loss of earnings for the tradesperson.

The third most common was back injury, impacting 28% of tradespeople in the UK.

The 10 most common injuries for tradespeople in the UK

The survey also found that half of the respondents had lost income or a contract due to their injury.

However, despite the risk of injury and accompanying income loss in the construction industry, more than four in 10 tradespeople reported not having insurance to protect them against accidents on site, thereby putting their finances and livelihood at risk.