Stress causing mistakes at work, research finds
According to new research, over half of Brits (52.6%) are making mistakes at work due to stress, and 1 in 4 Brits have rung in sick at least once due to how stressed they’re feeling.
The HSE’s latest statistics show that 964,000 workers this year have suffered from work-related stress, depression or anxiety.
The Astutis report states that over 1 in 4 (28.5%) Brits have missed deadlines due to stress, and a third (32.9%) of Brits have also clashed with someone in the workplace due to stress.
These stats are costing workplaces millions of pounds each year, and workplaces need to take workplace burnout and stress more seriously.
The research paints a stark picture of how stress is impacting productivity, collaboration, and employee well-being across Britain.
Read more on the HSM website.
Manufacturing firm fined after apprentice suffers serious injuries
A manufacturing company in Newbury has been fined £187,600 after the shirt of an apprentice got caught in machinery.
Harry Pullen, who was 18 years old at the time, was pulled into a radial-arm drill resulting in three broken ribs and needing skin grafts.
He had been working as a machinist for Power and Energy International, manufacturing industrial valves and filters, for less than a year when the incident occurred on 10 July 2023.
The apprentice was still learning how to operate the different machines involved in manufacturing. He was left with a large piece of skin removed from his chest, hospitalised for five days and unable to work for six months.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Power and Energy International had failed to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of their employees. The company’s radial-arm drills did not have adequate guarding. Machine operators, including Harry, had not been properly trained on using the safety features. The company was also found to have made modifications to the radial-arm drill which increased the risk of operators getting caught and pulled into the machine.
Learn more on the HSE website.
2 in 5 workers suffer Christmas party accidents
With the office Christmas party season officially underway, employee wellbeing experts at Stribe are urging employers to adopt a proactive approach to festive events to keep staff safe this year.
Whilst Christmas parties are intended to boost morale, they can cause health and safety risks, as data shows that 40% of people have suffered a minor accident at their work celebration, leading to stress, anxiety and even physical harm in some cases.
These festive mishaps experienced at office parties can directly impact employee mental health as well as cause injury. To highlight the scale of the issue, Stribe has researched the most common accidents and incidents and offered advice for preventing these in future.
For more on the research visit the HSM website.
Cornish farmer fined after cow attacks left walkers fearing for their lives
A 75-year-old man said he feared for his life after being attacked by cows while walking his dog on a public footpath in Cornwall.
The farmer responsible has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as a result.
Brian Gregory, aged 75, was on a caravanning holiday at Porthcothan in June 2024. On 30 June 2024, Mr Gregory and his labrador, Molly, were walking along the South West Coast Path at Park Head when he was suddenly attacked by a herd of cattle with calves.
He let go of Molly’s lead and the cattle chased after his dog away from him, but not in time to prevent him being trampled and butted. Mr Gregory was assisted by passing walkers and made it back to his caravan with Molly. When his partner saw his injuries, she immediately called an ambulance and he spent five days in hospital.
He suffered multiple serious injuries including a severed artery, horn marks and gashes down to the bone, and required surgery.
Visit the HSE website to read more.
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