Work-Related Fatalities on the Rise

A recent Health and Safety Executive (HSE) publication reports that 135 workers in Great Britain were killed in work-related accidents in 2022/23. This was an increase of 12 fatalities (10%) from the previous year.

Also, 68 members of the public sustained fatal injuries from work-related accidents. This is a 20% decrease from the 88 deaths in 2021/22, significantly lower than the number of fatalities recorded before the COVID-19 pandemic hit our shores.

The number of fatal injuries in the workplace fluctuates year-on-year. Over the last ten years, the highest number has been 150 in 2012/13, and the lowest was 113 in 2019/2020. Whilst these numbers continue to vary, one thing remains consistent – the construction industry is the most significant contributor of fatalities each year.

The profile of fatal injuries to workers by industry sector in 2022/23 is generally similar to the profile of the last five years, with 82% of deaths in 2022/23 occurring in five industry sectors. These are:

• Construction (45 fatalities)
• Agriculture, forestry and fishing (21 fatalities)
• Manufacturing (15 fatalities)
• Transportation and storage (15 fatalities)
• Wholesale, retail, motor vehicle repair; accommodation and food services (15 fatalities)

The 45 fatal injuries in the construction industry during 2022/23 was an increase of 16 from the previous year’s total of 29. However, this difference is not statistically significant, as the five-year average for fatalities in this sector is 37.

However, when you look at the fatal injury statistics regarding the number of fatalities per 100,000 workers employed, the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector comes out as the worst.

Falls from height, being struck by a moving vehicle and being struck by a moving (including flying or falling) object continue as the three leading causes of fatal injury. They have accounted for over half of all fatal injuries yearly since at least 2001/02.

In 2022/23, a total of 40 fatal injuries were due to falls from height, which accounts for 30% of all worker deaths over the year. This represents an increase of five fatalities from the previous year.

As a professional three-in-one contractor in the construction and renewable energy sectors, all our projects are above ground level, working on industrial or commercial roofs or from scaffolding. The health and safety of our workforce are constantly at the forefront of our minds.

We are proud to have developed market-leading health and safety policies that go above and beyond the standards of the sectors we operate in. These award-winning policies have been the solid foundations on which we have successfully built our business.

We’ve been annual winners of the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) Gold Award for Health and Safety since 2016. These awards fully endorse our primary objective – the continued safety of our employees.

Jamie Gibbs, Founder and Director of Retain Limited, commented: “Compared to other countries worldwide, Great Britain is regarded as one of the safest places to work.

“However, the subject of health and safety needs to be a top priority for all organisations regardless of the industry they operate in. We must ensure our workers return home to their families after a hard day’s work.”

Knowledge based on experience.