If you have had an accident at work, our local injury lawyers can help you claim compensation for your injuries.
Common injuries sustained at work
Some of the most common injuries at work include sprains and strains, broken bones, lacerations and repetitive strain injuries.
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What are the Most Common Injuries at Work?
Workplace injuries are common and can range from minor cuts and bruises to serious, life-changing fractures, head injuries and crush injuries. They often occur due to slips, trips and falls, inadequate training, faulty machinery or poor workplace safety measures.
Employers are legally required to take reasonable steps to protect the health and safety of their employees. If an employer breaches this duty of care and you suffer an injury as a result, you may be entitled to make a workplace injury compensation claim.
Read our guide below to learn more about the most common injuries at work and what measures should be in place to prevent them.
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Table of Contents
Cuts and lacerations
Cuts and laceration injuries are common in workplaces that involve the use of knives and other sharp tools, objects and machinery. These include kitchens, the retail sector, workshops, construction, and manufacturing.
While they are most often minor, deep lacerations can lead to infections, nerve damage and permanent scars. Each year, there are around 122,000 reported cases of workplace lacerations, resulting in 247,000 lost workdays.
Causes:
- Handling sharp tools or machinery without proper protection.
- Accidental contact with broken glass or metal edges.
- Landing on a sharp surface due to a slip, trip and fall.
Prevention:
- Use personal protective equipment (PPE), such as cut-resistant gloves.
- Make sure all machinery has adequate safety guards.
- Ensure the work environment is clean and free of hazards.
Repetitive strain injuries
Repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) are common workplace injuries that occur when the same muscles or joints are overused. They are common among office workers, in healthcare, on assembly lines, and in construction and transportation.
Common examples of RSIs include carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis. These can cause pain, stiffness, numbness, or weakness, and may significantly impact your work and daily activities. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 511,000 workers suffered from musculoskeletal disorders in 2024/25, resulting in 7.1 million lost working days.
Causes:
- Typing or using a mouse for extended periods.
- Repetitive lifting or manual handling tasks.
- Poor posture or workstation ergonomics.
Prevention:
- Take regular breaks and stretch your joints and muscles.
- Use ergonomic workstations and seats.
- Rotate tasks to avoid prolonged repetitive movement.
Sprains and strains
Sprains (ligament injuries) and strains (muscle and tendon injuries) are among the most common non-fatal injuries at work, accounting for 26% of all work-related injuries in 2025. They can affect any part of the body, but most commonly impact the back, wrists, and ankles.
Sprains and strains can occur in any work environment, from offices to construction sites. They can cause acute and chronic pain, tenderness, muscle spasms, and difficulty moving the affected area.
Causes:
- Lifting heavy objects incorrectly.
- Slips, trips, or falls on wet floors and other hazards.
- Sudden twisting or overstretching.
Prevention:
- Manual handling training and lifting aids.
- Good housekeeping to prevent slips and trips.
- Vary tasks throughout the day if possible.
Broken bones
Broken bones are a significant type of personal injury in the workplace. They can happen in many workplace environments but are most common in key sectors, such as agriculture, construction, manufacturing, and warehousing.
Any bone in the body can be fractured in a workplace accident, resulting in pain, swelling, limited mobility and prolonged recovery periods. According to data from the Labour Force Survey (LFS), fractures make up 14% of all non-fatal injuries to employees.
Causes:
- Falls from height, such as ladders or scaffolding.
- Dropping heavy objects on limbs.
- Being struck by moving vehicles or trapped by machinery.
Prevention:
- Use fall protection when working at height.
- Follow safety protocols around heavy machinery.
- Wear adequate PPE, such as steel-toed boots and helmets.
Burn injuries
Workplace burn injuries involve thousands of cases each year, making them one of the most common types of injury at work. They are common in workplaces where heat, chemicals, electricity, or hot liquids are used, such as factories, kitchens, construction and auto repair shops.
Burns range from superficial wounds that cause pain and redness to severe injuries that affect the skin and underlying tissues, including muscles and bones. Severe burns can lead to infections, nerve damage and, in some cases, amputations.
Causes:
- Contact with hot surfaces or flames.
- Spills of chemicals or boiling liquids.
- Electrical accidents and workplace fires.
Prevention:
- Wear heat-resistant gloves and clothing.
- Ensure hazardous substances are stored and disposed of correctly.
- Regularly inspect equipment for faulty parts or wires.
Head injuries
Head injuries at work range from mild concussions to severe traumatic brain injuries. They can occur in any work environment and can result in long-term complications such as memory loss, balance issues, fatigue, seizures and sensory problems.
In 2025, head injuries amounted to 9% of all workplace injuries, and many resulted in over 7-day incapacity to return to work. Head injuries are also one of the leading causes of fatalities at work. In 2023/24, 44 workers died because of an injury to the head.
Causes:
- Falls from height or slips and trips on the same level.
- Being struck by falling objects.
- Accidents involving machinery or vehicles.
Prevention:
- Wear hard hats in construction or high-risk areas.
- Keep work areas clear of obstacles.
- Make sure shelves and displays are properly secured.
Other injuries
Accidents at work can lead to various other types of injuries, including:
- Dislocations occur when a joint is forced out of position, often due to accidents involving sudden impact with machinery or falls.
- Crush injuries happen when a body part is trapped between two heavy objects, machinery or vehicles, potentially causing fractures, nerve damage or amputations.
- Noise-induced hearing loss is caused by prolonged exposure to loud machinery or equipment without adequate hearing protection.
- Eye injuries can result from flying debris, chemical splashes, dust and inadequate eye protection.
- Psychological injuries such as anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after traumatic accidents, acts of violence or prolonged stress at work.
Employer duties to prevent the most common injuries at work
Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, employers have a legal duty to take reasonable steps to protect employees from accidents and workplace hazards. Their duties include:
- Conduct regular risk assessments to identify hazards.
- Provide adequate training and supervision.
- Ensure PPE is available free of charge and used correctly.
- Maintain equipment and machinery and install safety guards.
- Ensure sufficient staffing levels and adequate breaks.
- Take reasonable steps to reduce the risk of workplace violence where relevant.
If you were injured at work because your employer failed in their duty of care, you may be eligible to make a workplace accident claim. To find out if you have grounds to start a claim, call 0800 470 0474 for a free consultation with a legal adviser or request a call back.
