UK Workplace Injuries Rise by 13% as Design-Led Offices Create Hidden Safety Risks

New figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reveal a sharp rise in non-fatal workplace injuries, with an estimated 680,000 workers injured in the last year, up from 604,000 the previous year. With injuries rising by 13%, slips, trips, and falls remain the leading cause, prompting renewed questions about how modern workplaces are designed, used, and managed.

At the same time, offices and commercial spaces are becoming increasingly design led. Open-plan layouts, polished concrete floors, glass staircases, minimalist finishes, and striking communal areas are now common features intended to attract talent and encourage collaboration. However, these visually impressive environments can also introduce under-recognised safety risks, particularly in high-traffic areas.

As organisations adapt spaces for hybrid working, footfall patterns have changed. Employees are often navigating busy offices on fewer, more condensed in-office days, sometimes in unfamiliar layouts. Combined with harder flooring materials, smoother finishes, and a focus on aesthetics over performance, the potential for slips and trips increases if safety is not engineered into the design from the outset.

The rising injury figures have serious implications. Non-fatal accidents result in lost productivity, increased insurance costs, and heightened legal exposure. In a highly connected workplace culture, incidents are also more visible than ever, meaning a single fall can quickly escalate into a reputational issue shared well beyond the organisation.

Experts warn that safety is too often treated as a secondary consideration in design-led projects, addressed only after an incident occurs. As the data shows, this approach is no longer sustainable. Leading organisations are now reassessing flooring, stairways, and circulation routes, auditing high-traffic areas, and implementing engineered anti-slip solutions that preserve visual impact while reducing risk.

Thermapply Group, specialists in engineered anti-slip systems, is urging businesses to view underfoot safety as a strategic issue rather than routine maintenance.

Mike King, Co-MD of Thermapply Group, commented, “The rise in workplace injuries shows a clear and concerning trend. As workplaces become more visually ambitious, risks can increase if design choices aren’t matched with real-world performance. Slips and trips may seem minor, but they carry serious operational, financial, and reputational consequences.”

While investment in workplace experience and brand-led environments continues to grow, the physical realities of how people move through space cannot be ignored. Safety is increasingly a visible measure of organisational standards and a core part of risk management.

Thermapply Group’s patented Thermagrip anti-slip system is used across industrial, commercial, and public environments to protect high-traffic areas without compromising design intent. As injury numbers continue to rise, organisations are recognising that underfoot safety is fundamental to operational resilience, employee wellbeing, and brand credibility.

Original Article: HRnews

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