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 available statistics at the time of writing (June 2026), which include HSE stats for 2024 and 2025. The next update for this period is due to be released by the HSE in November 2026.
Fatal Injuries
124 people lost their lives in work-related accidents in 2024/25. The causes of death were due to:
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
Falls from a height remain the leading cause of worker fatalities, as they have been for a number of years. The industries recording the highest number of deaths were construction (35) and agriculture, forestry and fishing (23). Agriculture also records the highest fatal injury rate per 100,000 workers of any sector, followed by waste and recycling. The age ranges of those killed range from 19 to 95.
While these figures remain sobering, the long term trend shows meaningful progress. The 124 fatalities recorded in 2024/25 compares to 223 deaths in 2004/05 and 495 in 1981. This is a reduction of over 75% across four decades of health and safety regulation.
That said, even one fatal workplace injury is too many. Work must continue to improve safety standards for every industry to ensure these numbers continue to come down.
Falls From Height: The Detail
As noted above, falls from a height consistently account for more workplace deaths than any other single cause. In 2024/25, they were responsible for over a quarter of all worker fatalities.
The term covers a wide range of scenarios, including work on roofs, use of ladders and stepladders, scaffold access, fragile roof surfaces, leading edge work and tasks carried out from mobile elevated work platforms. Risk is not limited to construction as falls from height are also a significant hazard in warehousing, logistics, utilities and facilities management environments too.
Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, employers are legally required to ensure that work at height is properly planned, supervised, and carried out by competent people. Where a fall risk exists and cannot be eliminated, appropriate fall protection must be in place. This means either fall arrest systems which stop a fall after it occurs or fall restraint systems, which prevent the worker from reaching a fall hazard in the first place.
Thorough risk assessment, correct equipment selection, and regular inspection of fall protection systems are all essential components of a compliant and safe approach.
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.