The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published its annual statistics on work-related fatalities, with 138 workers killed in work-related accidents, up from 136 last year.
The figure has fluctuated between 130 and 150 for most of the past decade.
Falls from height remain the highest kind of fatal accidents, at 50 deaths, significantly up from 40 last year, followed by being struck by a moving vehicle, 25 and struck by a moving object, 20.
Meanwhile, 87 members of the public were killed in work-related accidents in 2023/2024, according to RIDDOR.
Workers aged 60 or over accounted for 34 per cent of those killed, despite them making up only 11 per cent of the workforce.
The statistics also reveal construction as the industry for the highest number of deaths, with 51 fatalities during 2023/24, up from 2022/2023 which returned 45. Followed by agriculture, forestry and fishing at 23.
“Huge concern”
Ruth Wilkinson, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH)’s Head of Policy and Public Affairs, said: “There has been a rise in fatalities in construction, meaning the number of deaths in that industry is significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels. There has also been a rise in the total number of workplace fatalities so it’s clear that lessons aren’t being learned and that much more still needs to be done to protect workers.
“This is a huge concern, and we need to see action taken to tackle this. Whichever party forms the new Government must seek to protect and enhance health and safety standards, particularly across high-risk industries like construction. And businesses need to step up and ensure they have robust occupational health and safety management systems and control strategies in place to prevent accidents at work and reduce the chance of them happening.”
“Providing a safe and healthy working environment isn’t just an add-on for a business. It is now a fundamental principle and right at work, as recognised by the International Labour Organization. So, we need to see a joined-up approach to tackle harm at work to prevent more lives being needlessly lost.”
