A new analysis of workplace incident data shows that Birmingham has recorded the highest number of non-fatal workplace injuries in the UK.
The findings come from research carried out by process safety consultancy Sigma HSE. The analysis reviewed accident data across all UK local authority areas to identify where workplace injuries are most prevalent.
Birmingham reported 1,010 workplace accidents – placing it significantly above other regions. The city’s position as a major industrial centre, with engineering and manufacturing among its largest employment sectors, is reflected in the scale of incidents recorded.
Regional Differences In Workplace Safety
Glasgow holds the second highest number with 807 workplace accidents. As Scotland’s largest city, its broad mix of industries, including hospitality and engineering, contributes to the challenges of maintaining workplace safety. Leeds ranks third with 772 reported accidents. With wholesale and the motor trade among its main employment sectors, the city continues to face risks such as injuries linked to transporting goods or misuse of equipment.
Westminster is fourth with 713 workplace accidents, a figure that gives the area a high accident rate relative to its population. Major employment sectors in Westminster include banking, finance and the public sector, with incidents often involving falls or minor injuries in office environments. Manchester follows with 583 workplace accidents, reflecting risks commonly associated with technical work and roles in wholesale and retail.
Liverpool and Cornwall reported similar figures, with 562 and 561 workplace accidents respectively. Cornwall’s agricultural sector remains a major source of employment and brings specific risks linked to machinery use.
Edinburgh ranks eighth with 549 workplace accidents, reflecting the diverse nature of its economy in areas such as financial services, tourism and education. West Northamptonshire is ninth with 547 reported accidents. County Durham completes the top ten with 533 incidents, shaped by its large geographical area and varied industrial landscape.
At the other end of the scale, the study identifies the UK areas with the lowest numbers of workplace accidents. Harrow recorded the fewest incidents at 81, followed by Merton with 92 and Sutton with 118. Redbridge and Barking and Dagenham reported 119 and 138 incidents respectively.
Benchmarking Safety Performance
“These figures show stark contrasts across different regions of the UK. The numbers of workplace accidents vary greatly between large metropolitan areas and smaller localities due to the different employment sectors at play,” said Dr Dina Deifalla, Operations Manager at Sigma HSE.
“What’s particularly interesting is that population size doesn’t always directly correlate with accident rates. For example, Westminster has a much smaller population than Birmingham but records a very high number of workplace injuries, likely due to its high concentration of workplaces compared to residents.”
Dr Deifalla also noted that London boroughs make up much of the list of areas with the lowest accident numbers.
“The fact that London boroughs dominate the list of areas with the lowest accident numbers suggests that differences in industries, enforcement activities or safety culture have the largest impact.
“Businesses should use this data to benchmark their safety performance against regional averages. Where companies operate across multiple locations, understanding these regional variations can help target resources to areas of greatest need.”