Introduction

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has released its accident and incident statistics for 2024/25, giving us an important look at how UK workplaces are really performing and where risks are rising.  While many long-standing challenges remain, this year’s data reveals several significant shifts that employers cannot ignore.

One of the most notable changes is that Accommodation and Food Service Activities, not Construction, has recorded the highest rate of workplace non-fatal injuries. And while physical safety risks remain a concern, the data again shows that stress, anxiety and depression account for more than half of all work-related ill-health cases.

It’s a reminder that the way we work, the pressures employees face, and the culture we create all directly influence safety performance.

We spoke with Dale Jones, Technical Director at SafeContractor, about what the 2024/25 HSE findings mean for UK businesses. As Dale explains, compliance is shifting from a routine requirement to a real contributor to resilience, efficiency and stronger supply-chain performance.

“The annual HSE statistics act as a national health check for UK workplaces, showing businesses exactly where attention is needed. This year’s findings are a warning: workplace injuries and ill health are putting increasing pressure on the economy, with 40.1 million working days lost and national costs rising to £22.9 billion. Investing in health and safety isn’t just compliance, it’s an economic necessity.”

Headline findings from the 2024/25 HSE Report

Key statistics at a glance

• Accommodation & Food Services now has the highest rate of workplace non-fatal injuries.
• Work-related stress, anxiety and depression affected 964,000 workers, leading to 1 million lost working days.
• Slips, trips and falls remain the most common cause of non-fatal injuries.
• Falls from height feature heavily in the most serious and fatal injury cases.
• Construction, transportation and storage, and retail show above-average injury rates.
• Public administration, health/social care and education report the highest levels of work-related ill health.

“The 2025 HSE statistics show a worrying rise in work-related ill health, with cases increasing to 1.9 million, driven largely by the continued surge in stress, depression and anxiety affecting 964,000 workers. Although worker deaths have fallen from 138 to 124, the underlying risks remain unchanged, and self-reported non-fatal injuries have increased, a clear sign that while fewer people are dying at work, many are still being harmed.”

– Dale Jones

What these patterns tell us

Construction remains high risk, but it is no longer the highest for injuries

Construction continues to be one of the most complex and high-risk sectors due to the dynamic nature of sites, the frequency of work at height, and the involvement of multiple contractors. However, for the first time in years, the highest injury rate sits outside the sector.

This shift to Accommodation & Food Services suggests that fast-paced, customer-facing environments are now presenting significant safety challenges.

“The construction industry once again recorded the highest number of worker fatalities in 2025, with 35 deaths, and its fatal injury rate remains 4.8 times the all-industry average, largely due to work at height, which accounts for more than half of all fatalities. While there’s less detail available for food services, its high non-fatal injury rate shows how everyday operational risks can quickly escalate without strong controls.”

– Dale Jones

Preventable injuries continue to dominate

Slips, trips and falls remain the single most common cause of non-fatal injuries. Despite being some of the easiest risks to control. Failures typically stem from:

• Poor housekeeping
• Blocked or cluttered walkways
• Inconsistent accountability
• Lack of supervision

These basic failings continue to cost employers millions each year.

Falls from height remain one of the most serious risks

Although awareness and equipment have improved, falls from height continue to cause some of the most severe harm. Planning, supervision, equipment selection and competence remain critical, and consistency across teams is still a major challenge.

Mental health continues to be the biggest health challenge

With 964,000 people experiencing work-related stress, anxiety or depression, mental ill health creates more lost working time than any other issue. Key drivers include:

• Demanding workloads
• Poor communication
• High-pressure environments
• Demanding public-facing roles

More than ever, the data shows that wellbeing isn’t separate from safety; it is a core part of it.

What employers should do now

Strengthen controls around slips, trips, falls and work at height

• Keep access routes clear and well maintained
• Review and validate RAMS
• Ensure equipment inspections are current
• Refresh training and competency checks
• Increase supervision for high-risk work

Integrate mental health into your safety approach

• Carry out stress risk assessments
• Provide regular management check-ins
• Set realistic expectations
• Share wellbeing resources
• Encourage openness and early reporting

Build a strong, modern safety culture

A positive safety culture can transform both behaviour and outcomes. When employees feel able to speak up, when leaders model good practice, and when communication is open and respectful, safety performance improves.

Dale’s View on Safety Culture in 2025

“The fragmented nature of construction, with multiple contractors and supply chains, often makes it difficult to create a consistent safety culture. Responsibilities and training can easily become blurred. A strong modern safety culture requires a ‘One Team’ approach, where everyone owns safety and any worker feels able to stop unsafe work. This creates the unified competence and psychological safety needed on high-risk sites.”

Year-on-Year comparisons: What’s changed since 2023/24?

Work-related ill health continues to rise

• 9 million workers affected, up from 1.8 million
• Mental health cases remain high and increasing

Injury rates stabilised

• Self-reported non-fatal injuries around 680,000
• RIDDOR injuries broadly unchanged

Fatal injuries remain stable at 124

Industry shift

• Accommodation & Food Services now has the highest non-fatal injury rate
• Construction still high risk but no longer leads in injury frequency

Rising economic pressure

• Total cost now £22.9bn, driven by rising ill health

More working days lost

• 1 million days lost, largely due to mental health

What’s changed this year? – Quick summary

• Mental health cases remain significantly higher than pre-pandemic
• Working days lost increased to 40.1 million
• Economic costs rose to £22.9 billion
• Injury rates have plateaued
• Accommodation & Food Services has the highest non-fatal injury rate
• Construction remains high risk but no longer leads in injuries

How SafeWorkforce can help

SafeWorkforce supports organisations in responding to the findings in the 2025 HSE findings by helping them strengthen controls, build competency and develop a more proactive, people-centred safety culture.

We offer:

• Site audits and inspections
• Risk assessments and safe systems of work
• Stress risk assessment support
• Safety culture development
• Training and competency programmes
• Incident investigation
• Ongoing consultancy and advisory support

“SafeWorkforce helps businesses turn the 2025 HSE findings into clear, preventative action. Our audits focus on the biggest risks, such as falls from height, and the most common causes of harm, including slips, trips, falls and manual handling. This integrated approach gives organisations practical control over both physical risks and the operational issues that drive high injury rates. If you want clearer visibility of your risks and stronger day-to-day safety, our consultants are here to help.

– Dale Jones