Marvin OnumonuNearly half (44%) of employees in the UK and Ireland have had a workplace accident or illness, with stress topping the list of causes, EcoOnline research found.
The study looked at responses from 1,000 UK and Ireland employees and highlighted issues in chemical safety, digital tools, and protection for lone workers.
Most workers said they felt safe at work, with 82% agreeing, but 44% said they or a relative had experienced a workplace incident or illness.
Stress was the main factor, affecting 64% of UK and Ireland workers, which was higher than the global average.
Chemical safety was a concern, with 42% exposed to hazardous chemicals.
Of those, 37% said their company was not trying to substitute hazardous substances.
Most had been trained in chemical handling and had access to safety data sheets, but 40% did not have access to QR codes for these sheets and 36% had no digital chemical management system.
Lone workers made up 35% of those surveyed. While 68% felt their employer took their safety seriously, only 41% strongly agreed, down from 53% across all workers.
Fatigue, stress and mental health, and threats of aggression were the biggest worries for lone workers.
In the UK, aggression or assault was a top concern at 44%.
In Ireland, accidents and falls were second at 46%.
Digital health and safety tools were in demand, with 67% saying they would feel safer with more, rising to 82% for those aged 18 to 34.
E-learning was common, but many still wanted digital incident reporting, with 48% asking for it, even though most still used manual systems.
Only 20% said AI would definitely improve safety, but 65% were open to its use, with higher numbers among younger workers.
Most said trust in artificial intelligence (AI) would depend on how it was brought in, with interest in things like predictive alerts and virtual assistants.
Sustainability remained important, with 76% saying environmental responsibility mattered and 54% noticing more focus on it from their employer in 2024.
However, only 34% said their firm used a recognised environmental, social and governance (ESG) framework and 29% did not know what ESG was.
Tom Goodmanson, CEO at EcoOnline, said: “Today’s workplace experience hinges on the three S’s: Safety, Stress and Sustainability.
“Supporting employee wellbeing means going beyond compliance – creating environments that are productive, supportive, and safe.
“With 82% of workers saying they’d consider leaving due to poor conditions, the link between safety, sustainability and job satisfaction is clearer than ever.”
Goodmanson added: “Embracing technology to tackle psychosocial risks and make tangible sustainability commitments will be essential to keeping people protected and engaged.”
