Faulty equipment or tools named as the most common cause of injuries suffered by tradespeople while on the job
Posted by: electime 28th March 2025
A new study by Markel Direct, the specialist insurer of tradespeople, has revealed the most common injuries faced by those working in the construction industry.
The survey, which asked over 300 tradespeople about the impact of workplace injuries and illness, found that the most common causes of workplace injuries for tradespeople, with 44 per cent of tradespeople reporting that “faulty equipment or tools” was the reason for their injuries in the workplace, whilst other reasons given were “Lack of PPE” (38 per cent) and “Poor safety regulations on site” (36 per cent).
The most common causes of workplace injuries to tradespeople
| Cause of injury at work | per cent tradespeople |
| Faulty equipment or tools | 44 |
| Lack of PPE | 38 |
| Poor safety regulations on site | 36 |
| Personal mistake | 29 |
| Mistake or fault of others | 16 |
| Injured while handling, lifting or carrying | 13 |
| Not adhering to health and safety regulations | 12 |
| Weather conditions | 11 |
| Slips, trips or falls on same level | 10 |
| Falls from a height | 6 |
41 per cent of respondents who had experienced an injury reported that it was as a result of a third party (such as a co-worker), whilst a fifth of respondents reported not always taking the necessary health and safety measures at work, potentially putting themselves at risk of harm.
Head injuries found to be the most common type of injury in skilled trades
The study also found that head injuries and concussion are the most common injury sustained by tradespeople, with over a third (37 per cent) of respondents having experienced this in their line of work.
The second most common injury was minor broken bones, including fingers or toes, which 33 per cent have experienced. Whilst this type of injury isn’t usually a cause for concern, in manual skilled trades it can significantly impact the ability to work, which in turn leads to a loss of earnings for the tradesperson.
The third most common was back injury, impacting 28 per cent of tradespeople in the UK.
The 10 most common injuries for tradespeople in the UK
| Injury | per cent tradespeople |
| Head injury/concussion | 37 |
| Minor broken bone (fingers, toes, nose etc.) | 33 |
| Back injury | 28 |
| Shoulder injury | 27 |
| Knee injury | 20 |
| Strain or sprain (ankles, wrists) | 18 |
| Large cuts or wounds | 18 |
| Eye injury | 15 |
| Neck injury | 15 |
| Dislocation | 9 |
The survey also found that half of respondents had lost income or a contract as a result of their injury. But, despite the risk of injury – and accompanying income loss – in the construction industry, more than 4 in 10 tradespeople reported not having insurance to protect them against accidents on site, putting their finances and livelihood at risk.
Rob Rees, Divisional Director at Markel Direct, commented: “Taking adequate health and safety precautions is key to staying safe, but it’s important to have a safety net in the event something happens. Arranging insurance cover – such as occupational personal accident insurance – can help support you financially if you can’t work because of an injury on the job, minimising the impact of lost days on your income”.
You can find the full study here: https://www.markeluk.com/articles/cost-of-injuries-in-trades-construction-sector
