Every year, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) releases statistics about workplace-related injuries, illnesses and deaths.
It is important for employers to keep up with the latest information. This is so that the nature of incidents can best be understood, allowing for vital improvements to safety to be made in response.
At Metreel, safety underpins everything we do as a leading UK supplier of equipment for working at a height as well as powerfeed innovations.
To give you the key headlines, we’ve broken down the latest statistics at the time of writing (February 2026), which include HSE stats for 2024 and 2025.
Fatal Injuries
Sadly, 124 people lost their lives in work-related accidents in 2023/24:
Falls from a height – 35 deaths
Struck by a moving object – 18 deaths
Trapped by something collapsing or overturning – 17 deaths
Struck by a moving vehicle – 14 deaths
Contact with moving machinery – 13 deaths
As has been the case in previous years, falls from a height remain the biggest killer of workers on the job as we enter 2026. Examples of applications which have some of the biggest risks of falls include roofing, scaffolding, ladder use, mobile elevated platforms and tower access work.
Thorough planning and risk assessment remain crucial in reducing the risks of working at a height.
Workplace Injuries
- 4.4 million workdays were lost due to non-fatal injuries
- An estimated 1.9 million workers suffered from work‑related ill health in 2024/25.
- 680,000 workers sustained a non-fatal injury at work
- 511,000 workers suffered from a new or existing musculoskeletal disorder
- 59,219 workplace injuries were reported to RIDDOR
- Slips, trips and falls on the same level accounted for the highest percentage (30%) of all workplace injuries
- 18% of injuries resulted in a work absence lasting more than 7 days
Of the 1.9 million workers who suffered from work‑related ill health in 2024/25, 964,000 cases related to stress, depression or anxiety, making mental health the most commonly reported condition.
However, not far behind were musculoskeletal disorders including ailments such as back pain and neck pain. In the workplace, poor posture in addition to improper lifting or repetitive tasks can all lead to musculoskeletal disorders.
Financial Costs To The UK Economy
While the monetary costs of workplace-related illnesses and injuries pale in comparison to deaths and serious injuries, understanding the resulting costs of lost productivity remains important for employers.
- £22 billion – The annual costs of workplace injuries and new cases of work-related ill health
- £6.5 billion – The annual costs of workplace injuries
Furthermore, a report titled ‘Keep Britain Working’ published in November 2025 revealed that employers face an estimated £85 billion a year in lost output and costs solely linked to ill-health.
The Key Takeaways For UK Employers
The 2024/25 statistics highlight several key issues UK businesses should prioritise:
Injury Prevention
The cost of non-fatal injuries and lost working days can be felt both on a human level and an economic one. Reducing workplace injuries remains a priority. However, it relies on businesses adopting a culture of safety to bring the numbers down.
Ergonomics & MSD Prevention
Despite a slight downturn, musculoskeletal disorders affect hundreds of thousands of workers and remain a major health concern.
Mental Health Support
Stress, depression and anxiety continue to dominate ill‑health reports, reinforcing the need for proactive mental health strategies.
Long‑Term Occupational Health
Employers should invest in health and wellbeing programs to reduce employee illnesses and injuries. This can include combating workplace-related risks as well as looking to improve employee health as a whole.
Improve Safety In Your Workplace In 2026 & Beyond With Metreel
At Metreel, we work with UK businesses to improve safety and productivity through our mechanical handling, fall protection and powerfeed equipment.
So whether your team works at a height or is required to lift heavy loads, we can provide a range of solutions to make your operations safer and more efficient.
Take a look around our website to learn more about what we do, or download our brochure to view our product information.
Or, do you have any questions about Metreel products? Please send us a message or give us a call on 0115 647 0157.