Work-Related Fatal Injuries in Great Britain: What the Latest HSE Statistics Tell Us
126 workers were killed in work-related accidents in Great Britain during 2025/26, according to the latest provisional figures published by the Health and Safety Executive.
While the long-term trend shows a significant reduction in workplace fatalities, the latest figures demonstrate that serious and potentially fatal risks remain across a wide range of industries.
For employers, these statistics are a reminder that effective health and safety management is essential, not only to comply with legal requirements, but to prevent workers from being exposed to life-changing or fatal risks.
126 workers killed in work-related accidents
The HSE recorded 126 fatal injuries to workers during 2025/26, two fewer than the previous year. Excluding the years affected by the coronavirus pandemic, this is provisionally the lowest number of worker deaths recorded in a single year.
However, every fatality represents a person who did not return home from work, as well as the significant impact on their family, colleagues and wider community.
The HSE also recorded 104 members of the public killed as a result of work-related accidents during 2025/26. This figure excludes certain deaths involving patients and service users in healthcare and adult social care in England that fall under separate reporting arrangements.
Together, these figures demonstrate that workplace safety responsibilities extend beyond employees and workers to members of the public who may be affected by work activities.
Construction remains one of the highest-risk industries
The construction sector recorded the highest number of worker fatalities, with 25 deaths during 2025/26.
Agriculture, forestry and fishing followed closely with 22 fatalities, while manufacturing recorded 18 and transportation and storage recorded 15.
Construction and agriculture, forestry and fishing accounted for 47 of the 126 worker fatalities, meaning these two sectors alone represented more than a third of all worker deaths recorded during the year.
However, looking only at the number of fatalities does not provide the complete picture. The size of each industry’s workforce must also be considered.
Falls from height remain the leading cause of fatal injury
Falls from height continue to be one of the most significant causes of workplace fatalities.
During 2025/26, 31 workers were killed following falls from height, making it the most common type of fatal accident recorded by the HSE.
Other leading causes included:
- Struck by a moving vehicle – 24 deaths
- Struck by a moving object – 21 deaths
- Trapped by something collapsing or overturning – 18 deaths
- Contact with moving machinery – 10 deaths
These five accident types accounted for 104 of the 126 worker fatalities, or around 83% of the total.
Falls from height have been the main cause of work-related fatal injury in almost every year since at least 2001/02. The risk is particularly significant within construction, where the HSE reports that more than half of worker deaths over the latest five-year period were caused by falls from height.
Older workers continue to face a higher risk
The latest statistics also highlight differences in fatal injury rates between age groups.
Of the 126 workers killed in 2025/26:
- 85 were aged 16–59
- 40 were aged 60 or over
- 1 worker’s age was unknown
Workers aged 60 and over accounted for 32% of all worker fatalities, despite making up only around 12% of the workforce.
The HSE’s longer-term analysis also shows that fatal injury rates increase with age. Based on the five-year average from 2021/22 to 2025/26, workers aged 60–64 had a fatal injury rate around twice the all-age rate, while workers aged 65 and over had a rate around four times as high.
This does not mean that older workers should be viewed as inherently unsafe. Instead, employers should consider how factors such as physical capability, experience, fatigue, work demands and the nature of the task may affect individual risk.
The long term picture is improving but risks remain
There has been a substantial long-term reduction in the number of workers killed in work-related accidents.
The HSE recorded 217 worker fatalities in 2005/06, compared with 126 in 2025/26. In 1981, the figure was 495.
How can we help?
At HCS Safety we’re committed to reducing workplace accidents and improving health and safety practice. Our Membership Service provides access to qualified and experienced advisors, who will help your company achieve legal compliance and give you the peace of mind that comes from knowing you have our support.
Over 500 companies enjoy our Membership Service. To see who there are click here.
Open our Membership Service booklet here
West Point House, 321 Millbrook Road West Southampton Hampshire SO15 0HW
02380 894695
Statistics and sources
The figures in this article are based on the Health and Safety Executive’s Work-related fatal injuries in Great Britain, 2026 report and the HSE’s latest work-related fatal injuries statistics.
The 2025/26 figures are provisional and are expected to be finalised in July 2027.
HSE – Work-related fatal injuries in Great Britain
HSE – Work-related fatal injuries in Great Britain, 2026 report (PDF)
