On 2 July 2025, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) released its annual data concerning work-related fatal injuries in Great Britain for the period 2024/25. 

The report provides a critical insight into the current state of occupational safety and highlights areas requiring continued vigilance and improvement.

Although the Construction sector saw fewer fatalities during this period than in the previous year, the sector remains high risk.

    (i) National Overview

During the reporting year, 124 workers sustained fatal injuries in the UK workplace, marking a reduction from the 148 fatalities recorded in 2023/24. Despite this decline, the overall fatality rate appears to have stabilised at levels consistent with the pre-pandemic period, suggesting a potential plateau in progress.

    (ii) Regional Impact: Scotland

A total of 26 workplace fatalities occurred in Scotland, exceeding the national five-year average (2020/21 to 2024/25) by six deaths. This deviation underscores the importance of region-specific safety strategies.

    (iii) Sector Analysis

Two industry sectors continue to represent a disproportionately high share of work-related deaths:

    • Construction: 35 fatalities (28% of the total) representing a decline from the previous year
    • Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing: 23 fatalities (18% of the total)

Together, these sectors account for more than half of all occupational fatalities in Great Britain. Whilst Construction has the highest number of fatalities, the agriculture sector has the highest fatal injury rate per 100,000 workers.

    (iv) Primary Causes of Death

Fatal injuries were principally attributed to the following, both in the leading two sectors and generally:

    • Falls from height: 35 fatalities
    • Struck by moving objects: 18 fatalities
    • Trapped by something collapsing or overturning: 17 fatalities

When combined with other incidents involving moving vehicles and machinery, these causes collectively comprise approximately 56% of all workplace deaths.

    (v) Demographic Findings

    • 95% of the deceased workers were male, consistent with historical patterns.
    • Workers aged 60 and above accounted for approximately 40% of all fatalities, reflecting increased vulnerability within this demographic cohort.

    (vi) Self-Employed Workers

The report indicates that 40% of fatalities involved individuals who were self-employed. Notably, within the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector, 66% of fatalities occurred among self-employed workers. These findings highlight a critical need for health and safety resources to be inclusive of non-traditional employment models.

Conclusion 

While fatal injuries represent a small proportion of total workplace incidents, their impact is both tragic and far-reaching. 

It is imperative that organisations maintain robust risk assessment procedures and proactively engage in safety management practices.

BTO is committed to supporting businesses in developing and sustaining safe working environments through the provision of:

    • Comprehensive health and safety audits;
    • Bespoke training programmes tailored to sector-specific risks; and
    • Expert legal support in the event of work-related fatalities

Prompt and proactive engagement with health and safety obligations is not only a regulatory necessity - it is a moral and operational imperative.

• Vikki Watt is a partner and Stacey Fox is a senior solicitor in the construction team at BTO Solicitors LLP