With HSE’s latest fatal accident statistics (for 2024/25) being released this week, James Muller considers some of the key take-aways
HSE’s latest fatal accident statistics (for 2024/25)
Are workplaces getting safer?
Yes, the decades-long overall trend of slow-but-steady decline in worker fatalities continues. There were 124 worker fatalities in 2024/25 - compared to 138 in 2023/24, 223 in 2004/05, and 495 in 1981.
What are the biggest fatal risk areas?
Falls from height are the biggest risk area, accounting for almost double the number of fatalities as the next biggest risk area, which is being struck by a moving object.
Which is the most dangerous sector to work in?
It depends how you measure it.
- In terms of absolute number of fatalities, then construction remains the most dangerous sector, with 35 fatalities last year (with an average of 40 across the preceding 5 years).
- In terms of fatal injuries per 100,000 workers, the most dangerous sectors are agriculture, forestry and fishing at 8.01. This is 22 times higher than the all-sector average and significantly higher than construction’s rate of 1.65 per 100,000.
That said, these sectors have seen deceases in fatalities against their 5-year averages in both measures.
Are the public getting safer?
This is a more mixed picture. Although RIDDOR-reportable fatal accidents involving the public is lower than it was 10 years ago – 92 in 2024/25 compared to 120 in 2015/16 – figures have increased significantly in each of the last 2 years – from 73 in 2022/23, to 86 in 2023/24 and now to 92 in 2024/25.
The service sector accounts for the clear majority of fatalities involving the public – 81 of the 92 were associated with service sector, including 27 arising from railways. It also must be noted that whether an incident involving the public is RIDDOR-reportable is far more complicated than it is in relation to employees, and it is possible reporting practices within each sector differs.
What do these statistics mean for business?
Protecting the health and safety of workers and the public remains as important as ever, and businesses should continue the drive for improvement, even within “safer” industries. The statistics show that no sector is immune from fatal accidents, involving both workers and the public. Businesses should also ensure they have incident response systems in place to deal with fatalities and accidents when they do arise. This should include urgent advice from specialist health & safety lawyers, such as the top ranked team at Weightmans.
For further information please speak to our Health and safety solicitors.
