New statistics reveal slip in workplace safety standards

More than a third of people believe they work in an unsafe environment, while one in five dubbed their co-workers as 'dangerous', according to a survey.

Four in 10 UK companies have reduced their cleaning and maintenance budgets since the recession began, the survey of 1,000 UK workers carried out for Resource GB found.

According to the research, 35% believed they work in an unsafe environment, 28% of office workers said their workplace was dirty and 21% thought their colleagues were dangerous. Almost half (48%) of employees in the transport sector believed their colleagues were dangerous.

The cleanliness and presentation of their workplace has become a source of embarrassment for employees who have clients and customers visiting their workplace, with 40% saying visitors had noticed the falling standards of their workplace's appearance.

A little under half (45%) of employees said that more natural light would improve their productivity and wellbeing in the workplace and 37% of people in the financial sector wanted to have more plants.

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David Urpeth, a solicitor from law firm Irwin Mitchell said: “This survey is very worrying as it identifies falling standards and highlights the risk that this, in turn, will lead to an increase in injuries following a work accident.

“All too often, I have to assist workers pursue their compensation claim following injuries sustained in an accident at work in circumstances that could and should have been avoided.

“I would urge employers not to cut corners regarding health and safety as this could lead to misery and financial consequences following injury/death following an industrial accident.”