HSE Statistics: Work-Related Fatal Injuries in Great Britain 2023/2024:

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published its annual report on work-related fatalities in Great Britain for 2023/24.

Since the coronavirus pandemic, the annual figures have fluctuated, rising from 113 in 2019/20 to this year’s total of 138. This rise sees a return to pre-pandemic levels of work-related fatalities.

In this blog, we summarise the findings of the report and take a look at the fatalities across industries, gender and age and explore the short- and long-term trends of work-related fatalities in the UK.

Where Do The HSE Statistics Come From?

The HSE uses employer submitted reports under RIDDOR – the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013.

Only work-related accidents are reportable under RIDDOR. A work-related accident is defined as one ‘arising out of or in connection with work.’ As such, workplace deaths attributable to natural causes such as a heart attack aren’t included unless there is an express link between the cause of death and a work-related accident.

You can visit the HSE’s website to find more examples and distinction between what incidents are and aren’t reportable under RIDDOR.

The Report’s Headline Figures

A total of 138 workers were killed in work-related accidents in 2023/24. This is an increase of two over last year when 136 fatalities were reported.

In addition, 87 members of the public were killed in work-related accidents according to the report.

Commenting on the HSE data, Dr Julie Riggs, director of education and membership for the British Safety Council, said:

“The rise in work-related fatalities, as reported by the Health and Safety Executive, serves as a stark reminder that we cannot become complacent about the health and safety of workers. Put simply, the consequences of poor health and safety are too great a price to pay.

“For 50 years, the general direction of travel has seen safer workplaces with falling numbers of workplace deaths and non-fatal injuries; that for a second year this trend has reversed is cause for concern. It sends a message that we need to prioritise worker health and safety, understand the causes of rising fatalities, and take targeted action to return to falling figures and safer workplaces for all.”

Fatalities Over The Last Decade

As we mentioned above, the figures have fluctuated since the coronavirus pandemic, with reported fatalities changing from 113, 145, 123, 136 and 138 over the years 2019-2024.

The numbers of fatal injuries are subject to random variation, fluctuating year-on-year. This is why it’s necessary to look at trends over a number of years.

Prior to that, the figures remained broadly consistent and this year’s tally is in line with the pre-pandemic level of fatalities.

The Most Fatal Industries

There are two ways that you can look at fatality numbers. The first is to look at the absolute count.

Looking at the total number of fatalities, the construction and agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors continue to account for the greatest number of workers killed in fatal accidents each year.

These two industries accounted for just over half of all injuries to workers in 2023/24.

The most lethal industry was construction in which 51 workers lost their lives over the last year. This is an increase from the 47 reported in 2022/23 and higher than the five-year average of 42 deaths per year. 

While the number of fatalities fluctuate year-on-year, the average number of worker deaths in construction in the latest two years is statistically significantly higher than the pre-pandemic period (2016/17-2018/19)

Construction is followed by the agriculture, forestry and fishing industry which reported 23 fatalities.

Fatal Injuries by Age and Gender

Male workers continue to account for the vast majority of fatal injuries, with 95% of workers fatally injured in 2023/24 being men. This is a similar proportion to previous years.

Looking at ages, deaths to workers aged 60 and over continue to account for a substantial proportion of the total – 34% in 2023/24

Main Kinds of Fatal Accidents

The most common kinds of fatal accidents to workers remain falls from a height, being struck by a moving vehicle and being struck by a moving object. 

These three kinds of accident alone account for around 70% of the reported fatal injuries in 2023/24.

Rate of Fatal Injury per 100,000 Workers

Although the rate prior to the pandemic remained fairly flat, and this year has seen an increase in fatalities to those pre-pandemic levels, it is important to take a wider look to assess the trend in workplace safety in the UK.

The total number of deaths of 138 in 2023/24 compares to 236 in 2003/03, and 495 in 1981.

Since figures became published in 1981, the rate of fatal injury per 100,000 has drastically dropped. That year, 2.1 workers per 100,000 died due to work-related accidents. 

In 2023/24, that rate has now dropped to 0.42 workers of every 100,000.

RIDDOR Training

If you are a manager or H&S staff responsible for investigating personal injury or accidents in the workplace, our IIRSM Lead Accident Investigators qualification will help you understand what the law requires when it comes to Accident Investigation, RIDDOR and employers’ and employees’ responsibilities during and after the investigation.

Please visit the link above for more information on the contents of the course and when it is next running.