Migrant Workers Face Greater Risk of Workplace Accidents
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Andreea Martin
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Why migrant workers face greater risk of workplace accidents?
Foreign workers in the UK are statistically more likely to experience workplace accidents compared to their UK-born counterparts. While exact figures vary by sector and study, a growing body of evidence suggests that migrant workers are disproportionately exposed to occupational hazards. A 2024 meta-analysis published in the European Journal of Public Health revealed that migrant workers face a 71% higher risk of fatal occupational injuries than local workers. This alarming statistic highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions and improved regulatory oversight.
Migrant workers are often employed in industries described by the “3Ds”: dirty, dangerous, and demanding. These include agriculture, construction, and food processing—sectors that inherently involve higher risks of injury due to heavy machinery use, repetitive manual labour, exposure to hazardous substances, and demanding physical tasks.
Contributing factors to increased risk
Several interconnected factors contribute to the heightened vulnerability of migrant workers:
- Language barriers: limited English proficiency can hinder comprehension of safety protocols, signage, and training materials.
- Unfamiliarity with UK Safety Standards: newly arrived workers may be unaware of their legal rights or lack the knowledge to identify unsafe working conditions.
- Precarious employment: many migrant workers are employed under temporary, informal, or undocumented arrangements that fall outside standard regulatory frameworks. These roles often lack proper safety oversight and access to protective equipment.
- Insufficient training: employers may not provide adequate or culturally appropriate safety training tailored to the needs of non-native workers.
The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work highlights that migrant employment is often marked by uncertainty, poor working conditions, and low wages. This labour-market segregation means that while some migrants succeed in high-skilled sectors such as IT or engineering, many are concentrated in lower-wage, physically demanding roles within agriculture, construction, healthcare, transport, and food production.
Health and rehabilitation challenges
The physical risks faced by migrant workers are often compounded by psychosocial stressors. Many struggle with social isolation, uncertainty about their immigration status, and limited access to support networks. These stressors contribute to higher rates of sickness absence among migrant workers compared to native-born employees.
Moreover, when migrant workers do suffer injuries or illnesses, their path to rehabilitation and return to work is often more complicated. Some line managers show less interest in reintegrating migrant employees compared to local staff, further marginalising this vulnerable population.
Migrant workers play an essential role in the UK economy, especially in sectors with critical labour shortages. Yet, their disproportionate risk of workplace accidents reveals systemic issues that demand attention—from employers, regulators, and policymakers alike. Improving language-accessible training, strengthening oversight in informal employment, and fostering inclusive workplace cultures are essential steps toward ensuring safer, fairer working conditions for all.
How can we help?
Migrant workers deserve the same level of safety, dignity, and legal protection as any other member of the UK workforce. At Osbornes Law, our award-winning Personal Injury team is committed to standing up for vulnerable workers who have been injured due to unsafe conditions or employer negligence. With a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by migrant communities, we provide expert legal support to help you secure the justice and compensation you deserve. If you or someone you know has been affected, contact us by:
- Filling in our online enquiry form; or
- Calling us on 020 7485 8811
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Osbornes Law is a really strong team with a lot of depth.
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Osbornes clients are individuals whose cases are treated with the focus required when dealing with life changing injuries.
Fielding a ‘first class, very well resourced’ team of litigators, the personal injury department at Osbornes is rated for its diverse workload of complex, high-value injury claims, representing both domestic and international claimants.
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The personal injury team is responsive and its level of service towards clients and other professionals is exceptional and high quality
The team offers specialist expertise in cycling-related injury claims and regularly acts for foreign nationals.
It has considerable experience in cases arising from motor accidents and accidents at work
Osbornes is a well-regarded personal injury practice well equipped to advise on high-value and high-profile claims.
Their team includes bright, hard-working solicitors dedicated to achieving successful outcomes for their clients from partner level to paralegal. Their client care is exceptional.
They are a team who are highly respected in the PI sector.
This is an excellent PI team doing a broad range of PI work.
Osbornes’ ‘highly respected‘ personal injury team is experienced in a range of complex, high-value claims, with notable strength in acting for European clients for whom English is not a first language.
Osbornes’ ‘highly respected‘ personal injury team is experienced in a range of complex, high-value claims
Osbornes’ ‘highly respected‘ personal injury team is experienced in a range of complex, high-value claims.
"They punch well above their weight. The quality of service they provide equals that of any of the larger top-name firms in this area"
Ben Posford is fiercely bright, with an unrivalled passion for his clients’ cases. His encyclopaedic knowledge of all things PI is second to none. His foresight and commercial nous have propelled Osbornes into the highest echelons of the market where they rightly belong.
The firm has an excellent and innovative line in cases involving non-English speaking claimants, managed by recruiting paralegals with multi-language skills – an impressive route for expansion of the caseload.
Great expanding team with expertise and respect in the sector. Led by a commercially savvy and business minded team.
A really excellent group of PI solicitors, notable for their individual quality.’
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This combination of experience and diligence reaps massive rewards for clients, Osbornes being well known in the industry as a fantastic firm.
The Osbornes personal injury team now comprises some of the most technically adept and hard hitting lawyers in the business.
Excellent coverage of personal injury, and traumatic brain injury. There is a real specialism in claimants who do not speak English as a first language.
The group is noted for its expertise in matters relating to cycling injuries, and is the official legal partner of the London Cycling Campaign charity.
To complement its strong reputation for high-value and complex personal injury work, the firm continues to develop its 'excellent and innovative line in cases involving non-English speaking claimants'
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