Hairdressers ‘7 times more likely’ to have accidents at work than manual trades

Hairdressers, beauticians, fitness instructors and dog walkers are considerably more likely to have an accident at work than the traditional manual trades, such as bricklayers and carpenters, research has claimed.

The study, by business insurance brokers Simply Business, also revealed small businesses are a third (37%) more likely to have an accident on Monday than on other days of the week – and are 26 times more likely than on a Sunday.

It also showed that accidents and injuries have risen by 41% in the last five years – although 2016 did show a slight drop in the number compared to previous years.

Trade assessment

The research covers more than 1000 different trades including decorating, dog-walking, dancing, and revealed:

• Fitness instructors are three times more likely to have an accident at work than bricklayers
• Hairdressers and beauticians are seven times more likely to have an accident at work than carpenters
• Dog walkers, kennel owners and pet parlours are three times more likely to have an accident at work than lorry drivers

There was also a strong level of regionality to the findings, with cities in the north more likely to have an accident that in the south of the UK.

Most dangerous cities

It found the ten cities where you were most likely to have an accident at work were:

1. Liverpool
2. Glasgow
3. Manchester
4. Birmingham
5. Bradford
6. Edinburgh
7. Leeds
8. London
9. Sheffield
10. Bristol

Fiona McSwein, chief customer officer at Simply Business, said: “For the self-employed, an accident at work can have huge implications. Whether it’s time away from work, or reputational damage, a workplace accident could potentially put a small business owner out of work.

“Our research shows that even businesses that many would consider low-risk – such as hairdressing or dog walking – carry the risk of injury, and it’s particularly surprising when compared to manual trades like bricklaying or carpentry.

“It’s highly encouraging to see the rate of accidents and injuries starting to dip, with 2016 being the safest of the last five years. It shows that small business owners are increasingly concerned about safety at work.”

Approaches to managing the risks associated Musculoskeletal disorders

In this episode of the Safety & Health Podcast, we hear from Matt Birtles, Principal Ergonomics Consultant at HSE’s Science and Research Centre, about the different approaches to managing the risks associated with Musculoskeletal disorders.

Matt, an ergonomics and human factors expert, shares his thoughts on why MSDs are important, the various prevalent rates across the UK, what you can do within your own organisation and the Risk Management process surrounding MSD’s.

Listen now!