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ARTICLE · 04 SEPTEMBER 2026

Are Skills Shortages Affecting Workplace Safety?

Weightmans LLP
Weightmans LLP
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Weightmans LLP

Weightmans LLP

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The UK's skills shortages are evolving from an operational challenge into a significant health and safety concern, with workforce competence gaps creating conditions that may increase workplace accidents and liability claims. Analysis of employers' liability claims data reveals that while staffing shortages are rarely a direct cause of settlements, the inability to demonstrate effective risk management through proper documentation accounts for nearly half of all settled claims.

United KingdomEmployment and HR
Jacqui Bickerton
Jacqui Bickerton

The UK's continuing skills shortages are becoming more than an operational challenge for businesses - they are increasingly a health and safety concern according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). In their recent report ‘Protecting workforce competence for safer, healthier workplaces’ RoSPA warns that workforce competence gaps are making workplaces less safe, less productive, and potentially more vulnerable to accidents and claims.

Why the issue matters

RoSPA's Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Skills Commission, working in partnership with Speedy Hire, has highlighted growing concerns around recruitment difficulties, inadequate training pathways, workforce retention challenges, and an ageing workforce. The report argues that current skills shortages are creating conditions where competence levels may struggle to keep pace with emerging risks, including new technologies such as artificial intelligence.

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