A new study has found that North Warwickshire is the most dangerous area to work in Great Britain. This finding has been highlighted by field management software firm Re-flow Field Management, who have determined the most dangerous areas to work in the UK by analysing the latest data from the Health and Safety Executive on the rate of non-fatal workplace injuries in each area of Great Britain between April 2023 and March 2024.
The 10 most dangerous areas to work in Great Britain
| Rank | Area | Region | Total number of reported non-fatal injuries to employees | Rate of all reported non-fatal injuries per 100,000 employees | Difference from the average for Great Britain |
| 1. | North Warwickshire | West Midlands | 221 | 824 | +279.7% |
| 2. | Blaenau Gwent | Wales | 98 | 500 | +130.4% |
| 3. | Knowsley | North West | 168 | 470 | +116.6% |
| 4. | South Hams | South West | 124 | 464 | +113.8% |
| 5. | Argyll and Bute | Scotland | 118 | 447 | +106.0% |
| 6. | South Ayrshire | Scotland | 160 | 440 | +102.8% |
| 7. | Fenland | East | 134 | 415 | +91.2% |
| 8. | West Suffolk | East | 353 | 406 | +87.1% |
| 9. | Halton | North West | 172 | 405 | +86.6% |
| 10. | South Holland | East Midlands | 132 | 397 | +82.9% |
| UK overall | 61,663 | 217 |
Based on the above table, North Warwickshire,bordering Birmingham to the east,is the most dangerous area to work in Great Britain, with employees in this area of the West Midlands suffering 824 non-fatal injuries per 100,000 employees between April 2023 and March 2024. This is over three and a half times (279.7%) more than the average for Great Britain of 217 non-fatal injuries per 100,000 employees. In total, there were 221 reported non-fatal injuries in North Warwickshire.
Blaenau Gwent in Wales, just north of Cardiff, is the second-most dangerous area to work in Great Britain, with 500 non-fatal injuries per 100,000 workers, more than double (130.4% above) the Great British average. 98 non-fatal injuries were reported in this area.
Knowsley, bordering Liverpool, is the third-most dangerous area to work in Great Britain, with 470 non-fatal injuries per 100,000 employees, and a total of 168 were reported overall. This North West area’s injury rate is 116.6% more than the national average of 217 non-fatal injuries per 100,000 employees.
South Hams, bordering Plymouth, is the fourth-most dangerous area to work in Great Britain. This South West area saw 124 total non-fatal injuries at a rate of 464 non-fatal injuries per 100,000 employees, 113.8% above the national average.
Argyll and Bute in western Scotland is the fifth-most dangerous area for workers in Great Britain. 118 non-fatal injuries were reported in this area, resulting in a non-fatal injury rate of 447 per 100,000 employees, 106% more than the average for Great Britain.
South Ayrshire in south-west Scotland is sixth among the most dangerous areas to work in Great Britain. 160 non-fatal injuries were reported between April 2023 and March 2024, giving a rate of 440 non-fatal injuries per 100,000 employees, 102.8% above the average of 217 non-fatal injuries per 100,000 employees in Great Britain overall.
Fenland in the East of England is Great Britain’s seventh-most dangerous area to work, with 415 non-fatal injuries per 100,000 employees in the 2023/24 reporting period. This is 91.2% above the average for Great Britain, and, in total, 134 non-fatal injuries were reported in Fenland.
West Suffolk is the eighth-most dangerous area to work in Great Britain. This East of England area saw 353 non-fatal injuries reported in 2023/24 at a rate of 406 non-fatal injuries per 100,000 employees, 87.1% more than the national average.
Halton, bordering third-placed Knowsley and also bordering Liverpool, ranks ninth among the most dangerous areas to work in Great Britain. This North West borough had 172 non-fatal injuries reported in 2023/24 for a rate of 405 non-fatal injuries per 100,000 employees. This rate is 86.6% more than the average for Great Britain.
South Holland in the East Midlands, just north of seventh-placed Fenland, is the tenth-most dangerous area to work in Great Britain. 132 non-fatal injuries were reported in this area between April 2023 and March 2024, which is a rate of 397 non-fatal injuries per 100,000 employees and is 82.9% above the national average.
The 10 safest areas to work in the UK
| Rank | Area | Region | Total number of reported non-fatal injuries to employees | Rate of all reported non-fatal injuries per 100,000 employees | Difference from the average for Great Britain |
| 336. | City of London | London | 194 | 31 | -85.7% |
| 335. | Southwark | London | 244 | 67 | -69.1% |
| 334. | Worthing | South East | 45 | 98 | -54.8% |
| 333. | Brentwood | East | 38 | 102 | -53.0% |
| 332. | Richmond upon Thames | London | 79 | 103 | -52.5% |
| 331. | Harrow | London | 81 | 105 | -51.6% |
| 330. | Epsom and Ewell | South East | 43 | 111 | -48.8% |
| 329. | Cheltenham | South West | 71 | 113 | -47.9% |
| 328. | Woking | South East | 65 | 117 | -46.1% |
| 327. | Tower Hamlets | London | 240 | 119 | -45.2% |
| UK overall | 61,663 | 217 |
As for the safest areas to work in the UK, the City of London ranks top. 194 non-fatal injuries were reported in the Square Mile between April 2023 and March 2024 for a rate of 31 non-fatal injuries per 100,000 employees. This is seven times (85.7%) less than the average for Great Britain of 217 non-fatal injuries per 100,000 employees.
Southwark in London is the second-safest area to work in Great Britain, with 67 non-fatal injuries per 100,000 employees and a total of 244 reported non-fatal injuries. This rate is 69.1% less than the national average.
Worthing in the South East, just to the west of Brighton on the south coast, is the third-safest area to work in Great Britain. A total of 45 non-fatal injuries were reported in 2023/24 at a rate of 98 non-fatal injuries per 100,000 employees. This is 54.8% below the Great British average of 217 non-fatal injuries per 100,000.
Brentwood in the East of England ranks fourth among the safest areas to work in Great Britain. This Essex town saw 38 reported non-fatal injuries at a rate of 102 non-fatal injuries per 100,000 employees, 53% below the national average.
Richmond upon Thames in London is the fifth-safest area to work in Great Britain, with 79 total reported non-fatal injuries for a rate of 103 non-fatal injuries per 100,000 employees, 52.5% below the average for Great Britain.
Analysis
Certain industries have the highest rates of reported workplace injuries, and had over a quarter of all workplace injuries by industry sector in 2023/24. These can be overcome y ensuring that employees have been well trained in health and safety measures, that all relevant safety measures are followed in the workplace, and that any incidents that could cause injury are used as ways to improve safety practices in future can all help prevent injuries at work.
