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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published its latest annual statistics on work-related fatal injuries in Great Britain. While the overall number of fatalities remains historically low, the data highlights that many of the causes of fatal accidents have remained stubbornly consistent for decades.
In 2025/26, 126 workers lost their lives in work-related accidents, two fewer than the previous year. Although this represents one of the lowest annual totals ever recorded (excluding the pandemic years), every fatality represents a tragedy for families, colleagues and employers.
Keep reading as we explore the leading causes of workplace fatalities, the industries and workers most at risk, and the key lessons employers can take from the latest statistics.
The biggest risks haven’t changed
The statistics show that a relatively small number of accident types continue to account for the majority of workplace fatalities.
The leading causes of fatal accidents in 2025/26 were:
- Falls from height – 31 fatalities
- Struck by a moving vehicle – 24 fatalities
- Struck by a moving object – 21 fatalities
- Trapped by something collapsing or overturning – 18 fatalities
- Contact with moving machinery – 10 fatalities
Perhaps most striking is that falls from height continue to be the single biggest cause of workplace deaths, accounting for around one quarter of all worker fatalities. HSE notes that falls from height have remained the leading cause of fatal workplace accidents in almost every year since at least 2001.
Construction and agriculture remain high-risk
Construction recorded the highest number of worker fatalities (25), followed by agriculture, forestry and fishing (22). Together these two sectors accounted for almost 40% of all worker deaths.
However, the number of fatalities only tells part of the story.
When workforce size is taken into account, agriculture continues to have by far the highest fatal injury rate, around 21 times higher than the average across all industries. Waste and recycling also remains significantly higher risk, while construction has a fatal injury rate around five times the all-industry average.
This demonstrates why organisations should consider both the likelihood and severity of workplace hazards rather than relying solely on incident numbers.
An ageing workforce deserves greater attention
One of the more significant findings is the continued increase in fatalities among older workers.
Workers aged 60 and over accounted for around one-third of all workplace fatalities, despite representing only around 12% of the workforce. The HSE’s longer-term analysis also shows that fatal injury rates increase steadily with age, with workers aged 65 and over experiencing a rate approximately four times the average.
As workforces continue to age, employers should ensure that risk assessments consider factors such as:
- Physical capability
- Fatigue and recovery
- Manual handling demands
- Working at height
- Lone working
- Individual health considerations
Age should never be viewed as a risk in itself, but changing capabilities and workplace design should be taken into account.
What employers should take away
Although the overall fatal injury rate has fallen dramatically over the last four decades, from around 3.1 deaths per 100,000 workers in 1981 to 0.37 per 100,000 workers today, the HSE notes that the rate of improvement has slowed in recent years.
Rather than becoming complacent because fatalities are relatively rare, organisations should focus on controlling the well-known hazards that continue to cause the most serious incidents.
Simple questions can make a significant difference:
- Are work at height activities properly planned and supervised?
- Are vehicles effectively separated from pedestrians?
- Are lifting operations and moving machinery adequately controlled?
- Are contractors managed consistently?
- Do risk assessments reflect changes to the workforce and working environment?
These are not new risks, but they remain the ones most likely to result in life-changing or fatal consequences if they are not properly managed.
Looking beyond the numbers
Statistics provide valuable insight into national trends, but they should not simply be viewed as annual figures. Every fatality represents an opportunity for organisations to reflect on their own arrangements and ask whether similar circumstances could occur within their own operations.
By focusing on the highest-risk activities, reviewing existing controls and learning from industry trends, organisations can help ensure that these numbers continue to move in the right direction.
We’re here to help
If you have any questions about our interpretation of the latest HSE statistics, or if you would like to explore how we can help you ensure your employees are provided with a safe, healthy and productive workplace, our team is here to support you. Contact us today.
