Aon has launched Health & Safety Manager, a new advisory service and online system to help SMEs cope with health and safety (H&S) risks and regulation.
Research from Aon shows that over half of employee accidents (52%) were caused by incidents with equipment during the last 12 months.
Aon said this has led to the misconception that blue-collar workers are more at risk, whereas reality shows that office-based companies also face the risks of employees slipping in the workplace or developing Repetitive Strain Injury, the second and third most common causes of claims.
Aon also found that the average cost per claim for the top three causes of accidents stands at £5,731, an increase of 64% from £2,040 for 2003/4.
The new system is designed to guide managing directors and their H&S officers through the H&S process.
Aon said it would enable managing directors to keep up-to-date with relevant legislation, manage ongoing H&S procedures and maintain online claims records to prove their commitment to H&S and avoid the threat of prosecution for failing to comply with government requirements.
Aon said the online tool would help to assess and control the risks SMEs undergo, thus reducing both the number and magnitude of employers' liability claims.
The company said this would have the knock-on benefit of cutting absenteeism and enabling greater productivity amongst employees.