What’s the first thing you think of when someone mentions workplace safety? Probably the bad things, like accidents and injuries, right? From the good to the bad and the pretty ugly, here are some of the best safety stories of 2022.

Motor Repair Organisations join Working Minds Campaign for Mental Health

Looking after employee safety is not just about their physical well-being, it’s about their mental health too. The four motor trade organisations in the car industry, the National Body Repair Association (NBRA), the commercial Vehicle Body Repair Association (VBRA), the Independent Garage Association (IGA), and the automotive charity Ben, are working with an HSE-led campaign to ensure workers know what mental health support is available this winter.

It’s especially important in the busy run-up to Christmas. Many employees face work stress as well as dealing with personal issues they may have.

Ben, a charity that supports workers in the car industry, reports that more people ask for mental health help and advice in the winter months. Figures also show that 94% of workers in the industry had been affected by a health or well-being issue in the past year. Stress was the most commonly reported issue, closely followed by anxiety and poor sleep.

Poor Mental Health Accounts for Half of All Work-Related Illnesses

Staying with mental health in our round-up of the top safety stories of 2022. Poor mental health is now the cause of 51% of work-related illnesses. That’s according to HSE stats. Stress, anxiety, and depression were behind 17 million lost working days in 2021-22. The highest rates of poor mental health were in health and social workers (3,320 cases per 100,000 workers) and teachers (2,660 cases per 100,000 workers).

If you don’t have a decent well-being policy for your business, reading these stats might make you reconsider. In 2021-22, 8 million working people had a work-related illness. Of these;

  • 914,000 workers were suffering from work-related stress, depression, or anxiety;
  • 477,000 workers were suffering from a work-related musculoskeletal disorder;
  • 123,000 workers had COVID-19 which they believe they contracted at work.

Times Report Speaks of Shocking Conditions in Fast Fashion Warehouse

Speaking of not having a decent workplace safety or well-being policy, this might just be one of the most shocking safety stories of 2022. An undercover reporter from the Times alleges that safety practices at fashion brand Boohoo’s warehouse in Burnley leave a lot to be desired.

  • Among the allegations in his report, the journalist spoke of:
  • Walking 13 miles during a shift in temperatures of over 30 degrees;
  • Employees fainting because of the heat and ambulances being called;
  • Being monitored the entire time by a device strapped to his wrist;
  • Having unfeasible targets to pick items in a huge disorganised warehouse;

The Times report came as protesters held a demonstration outside of the company’s HQ on Black Friday. Protesters wanted to highlight alleged worker abuses as well as the damage that fast fashion does to the planet. However, Boohoo refuted the claims.  It said the report was ‘not reflective of the environment in our warehouse and our colleagues’ experiences.’

Farm Safety Week Highlights the Number of Fatalities on Farms

Here’s the final story in our roundup of the headline-making safety stories of 2022.

A charity dedicated to farm health and safety is raising awareness of the number of fatalities on farms. The number of deaths on farms fell to 25 from 41 in the previous year. However, the Farm Safety Foundation says that HSE figures are still a concern. Fatalities on farms have fallen by around 50% since the 1980s but it still has the highest rate of any sector. 

That’s why the charity set up the week which ran from 18th -22nd July to raise awareness about safety in the farming community.

The National Farmers Union is encouraging farmers to sign up for a new online safety course it’s developed with the HSE. Included in the course are reminders about the risks of working at height, working with cattle, and other risks which are the main causes of death. For more interesting articles on workplace safety, check out the rest of our blog.