The Human Cost of Neglecting Safety

Every year, lives are changed forever by workplace accidents and ill health. The recent sentencing of a paddleboard company owner for gross negligence manslaughter—after four people tragically died on a guided tour in Pembrokeshire—serves as a stark reminder that health and safety lessons are not just a box-ticking exercise, but a vital responsibility.

A Real-World Case

In October 2021, four people lost their lives during a stand-up paddleboarding tour on the River Cleddau in Pembrokeshire. Among the victims was an employee of the company, highlighting the devastating consequences that lapses in workplace health and safety can have for staff as well as customers. The tour leader, Nerys Bethan Lloyd, lacked the necessary qualifications and failed to carry out essential safety procedures, including proper risk assessments, safety briefings, and the provision of appropriate equipment. She also ignored hazardous weather and river conditions, and did not warn participants about a dangerous weir on the route.

Lloyd was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison for gross negligence manslaughter. The judge described her approach as showing a “blatant disregard for a very high risk of death” highlighting the devastating consequences of failing to prioritise safety.

This tragedy underlines that robust workplace health and safety lessons must be learned and applied—not only in high-risk activities, but in every workplace.

Every employee has the right to go home safe and well every evening.

The Numbers

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)¹:

Over 1.7 million working people suffer from a work-related illness, including:
- 776,000 with work-related stress, depression, or anxiety
- 543,000 workers annually suffered a new case of ill health believed to be caused or worsened by their work.
138 workers were killed in work-related accidents in the last year.
The estimated cost of injuries and ill health from current working conditions is £21.6 billion².
33.7 million working days were lost due to work-related ill health or injury.

For every incident, there is a ripple effect, impacting the worker, their colleagues and loved ones, and the wider economy. Health and safety affects everyone.

Why Tailored Health and Safety Matters

A one-size-fits-all approach to health and safety simply doesn’t work. Every organisation faces unique risks, processes, and environments that require tailored solutions to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all employees.

“Businesses, even in the same sector, can have unique processes and environments which lead to varying challenges and hazards. Custom-made health and safety processes help businesses comply with legal regulations, reduce financial risks and, most importantly, ensure staff have the correct knowledge and skills to protect themselves and others around them.”

Helen Barge, a leader in risk management and operational improvement, believes tailored risk management and compliance is crucial to creating safer workplaces and addressing issues proactively, rather than reactively.

Providing bespoke solutions without the hefty price tag is the reason Helen founded Risk Evolves in 2015.

“My goal was, and still is, to ensure businesses weren’t just compliant, but resilient and prepared for future challenges. Risk management should be accessible to the smallest of organisations – it’s a belief I hold true to.”

With 5.5 million small to medium sized businesses in the UK and SMEs accounting for 99.8% of the business population³, it’s integral that tailored health and safety is available to all.

Aligning health and safety to each organisation’s needs ensures clients have the tools to thrive in today’s complex business landscape.

Key Workplace Health and Safety Lessons for Every Business

Qualifications and Training: Ensure all staff and leaders are properly qualified and trained for their roles.
Risk Assessments: Conduct thorough risk assessments for all activities, especially those with higher hazards.
Clear Communication: Provide comprehensive safety briefings and ensure everyone understands the risks and procedures.
Appropriate Equipment: Supply and maintain the correct safety equipment for every task.
Culture of Safety: Foster an environment where safety is prioritised over convenience or excitement.

A strong health and safety culture protects not just your employees, but your business and reputation.

You Don’t Have to Do It Alone

We know one article can’t answer all your questions, which is why our specialists are available for ad hoc and retained support – ensuring you always have an expert on hand. Our team can also help your organisation achieve ISO 45001 – the occupational health and safety standard – which offers protection against workplace injuries and illnesses. Seeking professional advice can make the difference between compliance and true safety.

We also have an ever-growing collection of guides, posts, webinars and courses designed to support all types of businesses.

Explore Further:

Continue your learning with these essential guides and training opportunities.

Read: HSE – why it stands for a Heightened Sense of Excitement on the role of risk management, workplace safety and the qualities needed to succeed.
Driving Safety: With 500 people killed annually in collisions involving people who are driving for work, read why Business driving licence checks are more than just a tick-box exercise.
Webinar: Health and Safety in the Workplace: How To Do A Risk Assessment – a free 30-minute guide.
Course: Managing Health and Safety Risks – The Essentials. The two-day virtual course, developed by Risk Evolves’ Helen Barge and Ruth Waring with IIRSM, runs on 30 September and 1 October 2025, from 9am to 4pm.

Putting Workplace Health and Safety Lessons into Action

Workplace health and safety lessons are not just learned from statistics, but from real-life tragedies and everyday diligence. By prioritising robust safety practices, investing in training, and fostering a culture where every employee’s wellbeing comes first, organisations can help ensure that everyone goes home safe and well every evening. Let’s learn from the past, act in the present, and build safer workplaces for the future.

Ready to make your workplace safer?

Let’s start the conversation—our experts are here to help you tackle your health and safety challenges.

Speak with our team today and discover how we can support your health and safety journey.

^{[1] Key figures for Great Britain (2023/24) – HSE}
^{[2] Costs to Great Britain of workplace injuries and new cases of work-related Ill Health – 2022/23}
^{[3] UK Small Business Statistics – FSB}

April 28, 2025
Health and Safety
Health and Safety, legal responsibility, Pembrokeshire paddleboarding, risk assessment, risk management, safety compliance, safety training, workplace health and safety lessons, workplace tragedy