New analysis of workplace accident data has identified Birmingham as the UK local authority area with the highest number of reported non-fatal workplace injuries. The findings raise questions about how location, sector mix and safety culture intersect with employee wellbeing across different regions.
The research was conducted by Sigma HSE, a process safety consultancy and laboratories, and examined workplace accident data across all UK local authority areas. Its aim was to identify where incidents are most frequently reported and to highlight regional variation in workplace safety outcomes.
Birmingham recorded 1,010 workplace accidents, the highest total in the study and significantly more than any other UK area. The figure reflects the city’s role as one of the country’s largest industrial centres. Engineering and manufacturing are among Birmingham’s largest employment sectors, both of which involve higher exposure to physical risk.
Glasgow ranked second with 807 reported workplace accidents. As Scotland’s largest city and a major economic hub, Glasgow’s figures reflect safety pressures across a broad mix of industries including hospitality and engineering. Leeds followed in third place with 772 reported incidents. The West Yorkshire city has a population of more than 800,000 and a strong presence in wholesale and the motor trade where injuries can arise from transporting goods or misuse of equipment.
Regional Patterns In Workplace Injury Data
Westminster recorded the fourth highest number of workplace accidents at 713. Despite its smaller residential population, the area has one of the highest workplace accident rates per capita among major UK locations. Banking, finance and the public sector dominate employment in Westminster where incidents may include falls and minor injuries involving office equipment.
Manchester placed fifth with 583 reported workplace accidents. Technical roles along with wholesale and retail are among the city’s largest employment sectors, making slips and falls a common risk. Liverpool and Cornwall reported similar numbers with 562 and 561 accidents respectively. In Cornwall, agriculture is a major employer and working with machinery can increase the likelihood of accidents.
Edinburgh ranked eighth with 549 reported workplace accidents. The city’s economy spans financial services, tourism and education which helps explain its injury profile. West Northamptonshire followed with 547 reported accidents while County Durham completed the top ten with 533. County Durham’s wide geographic spread and varied industrial base contribute to its position.
Lowest Accident Areas Highlight Safety Variation
At the opposite end of the scale, the study identified areas with the lowest numbers of reported workplace accidents. Harrow recorded the fewest incidents with 81. Healthcare, education and retail are among the borough’s largest employment sectors. Merton followed with 92 reported accidents where the public sector is a major employer. Sutton recorded 118 incidents while Redbridge and Barking and Dagenham reported 119 and 138 respectively.
Commenting on the findings, Dr Dina Deifalla, Operations Manager at Sigma HSE, said, “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.
“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.
“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.”