What Oxfordshire businesses can do to reduce work-related injuries

8 December 2025

Man sitting on stairs holding his back, with a folder and papers on the floor.

HSE figures show 124 worker fatalities in 2024/25. Most incidents are preventable. This guide turns UK legal duties and best practice into clear, actionable steps you can apply now.

Work-related injuries damage lives, morale and operations. A structured approach, rooted in the Hierarchy of Controls, legal duties, and worker involvement, reduces risk and improves productivity.

Hierarchy of controls (best → least effective)

Control level	What good looks like
Eliminate	Remove the hazard/task entirely (e.g., off-site fabrication instead of hot-work on site).
Substitute	Use safer materials/processes (low-tox product instead of solvent; mechanical lift for heavy items).
Engineering	Physical changes: fixed guards/interlocks, LEV for dust/fume, edge protection, vehicle–pedestrian segregation.
Administrative	Permits to work, safe systems, toolbox talks, supervision, rota/rotation, clear signage and site rules.
PPE	Task-appropriate, fit-tested, maintained PPE. Always the last line of defence.

Risk assessment in 5 steps (MHSWR)

Identify hazards (people, place, process, plant, product).
Decide who might be harmed and how (employees, contractors, visitors, public, lone workers).
Evaluate risk & select controls using the hierarchy; prioritise high risks.
Record & implement—proportionate documentation; communicate changes; assign owners/dates.
Review after incidents/near-misses/changes or at planned intervals.

HSE guidance: 5 steps to risk assessment •
MAC tool (manual handling) •
RAPP tool (pushing/pulling)

Training & competence (what “good” looks like)

Induction: site rules, emergency, reporting/near-miss, PPE, basic hazards.
Role training: WAH, manual handling, PUWER authorisations, COSHH, traffic routes, lone working.
Refreshers: e.g., annual WAH/manual handling; face-fit annually; First Aid requalification every 3 years.
Verification: observed practice/spot checks; signed toolbox talks; competence recorded.
Consultation: involve workers/safety reps; lift issues via regular safety huddles.

Equipment & maintenance (PUWER/LOLER)

Select, maintain and inspect equipment. Do pre-use checks; schedule servicing; complete statutory thorough examinations (LOLER) and LEV testing. Keep records. Technology (e.g., proximity alarms, telemetry) can help, but CCTV should be framed as a monitoring/investigation aid, not a primary control.

For small businesses lacking in-house expertise, external support (e.g., a competent safety adviser or a local insurance broker) can check that policy conditions align with your risk profile and legal duties.

Expert view: insurance pitfalls after safety changes

“After a serious incident, insurers look for two things; material changes you didn’t tell them about, and policy conditions you didn’t meet. Keep clear evidence of maintenance and statutory checks (PUWER/LOLER/LEV), act on risk-improvement notes, and notify significant changes promptly—new processes,
heat work, contractors, or layout. It lowers risk and helps avoid disputes at claim time.”

Document everything: pre-use checks, thorough examinations, servicing, and corrective actions.
Tell your insurer/broker about changes: sums insured, business activities, occupancy, security.
Align practice with policy: permit-to-work, hot-work precautions, contractor controls, alarm testing.

Mental health & stress (legal duty to assess)

Use the HSE Stress Management Standards to assess
Demands, Control, Support, Relationships, Role and Change. Practical steps:

Workload reviews, clear priorities, sensible overtime limits.
Visible manager support; MHFAiders; confidential referral routes.
Anti-bullying/harassment policy; fair procedures; return-to-work support.

What to measure (leading & lagging)

Leading: % closed actions from risk assessments; near-miss reporting rate; toolbox-talk completion; audit scores; overdue maintenance.
Lagging: LTIFR; RIDDOR rate; days lost; repeat incidents.
Set monthly targets; discuss results at safety meetings; publish a one-page dashboard internally.

Executive checklist (print and pin)

[ ] Appoint a competent person; set a 12-month safety plan with KPIs.
[ ] Complete/review risk assessments (5 steps); apply the control hierarchy.
[ ] Confirm compliance: WAH, PUWER/LOLER, COSHH, Fire, First Aid; document evidence.
[ ] Build a training matrix with refresh cycles; record competence/authorisations.
[ ] Enable near-miss & hazard reporting (simple, no-blame); act on trends.
[ ] Schedule maintenance & inspections (PUWER/LOLER/LEV) with reminders.
[ ] Consult workers & safety reps; hold monthly safety reviews.
[ ] Implement stress risk assessment and support pathways.
[ ] Track leading/lagging indicators; share lessons learned.
[ ] Review insurance after material changes; check policy conditions/notifications.