UK Construction Fatalities See Concerning Rise

Provisional statistics released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for Great Britain reveal a worrying trend in construction site safety. In the period spanning April 2023 to March 2024, 51 workers tragically lost their lives in the construction sector. This marks an increase of four fatalities from the previous year (47 deaths in 2022/23) and is significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels. The construction industry accounted for the highest number of all work-related fatalities in the UK during this period, representing over a third of the total 138 worker deaths across all industries.

Falls from height continue to be the leading cause of fatal injuries in construction, contributing to over half (52%) of these deaths. Other significant causes included being trapped by something collapsing and being struck by a moving object, both accounting for 11% of fatalities.

Beyond fatalities, the construction sector also reported an estimated 78,000 workers suffering from work-related illnesses in 2023/24. Musculoskeletal disorders constituted over half (52%) of these illnesses, with work-related stress, depression, or anxiety affecting a further 18% of workers. An estimated 2.5 million working days were lost in the sector due to self-reported work-related ill health and injury.

Ireland Achieves Record Low in Work-Related Fatalities

In contrast to the UK figures, Ireland has achieved a significant milestone in workplace safety. Provisional data published by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) shows that Ireland recorded its lowest-ever rate of work-related fatalities in 2024. A total of 33 people lost their lives in work-related incidents in 2024, a reduction of almost a quarter from the 43 fatalities reported in 2023. The fatality rate per 100,000 workers has fallen from 2.7 in 2015 to a record low of 1.2 in 2024, the fewest work-related deaths since the HSA's establishment in 1989.

The construction sector in Ireland saw a particularly notable improvement, with a 50% reduction in fatalities, dropping from 10 deaths in 2023 to five in 2024. This significant decline was highlighted by Conor O'Brien, Chief Executive of the HSA, who commended the reduction in high-risk sectors.

Despite this positive trend, vigilance remains crucial. Leading causes of fatalities in Ireland in 2024 included vehicle-related incidents (10 fatalities), incidents involving heavy/falling objects (6 fatalities), and falls from height (5 fatalities), collectively accounting for 64% of all work-related deaths. Self-employed workers accounted for a significant proportion of the fatalities, representing 18 out of the 33 deaths. Furthermore, two-thirds of all fatalities (22) occurred to those aged 55 and over.

Key Safety Regulations and Ongoing Initiatives

Both the UK and Ireland continue to implement and evolve regulations aimed at enhancing construction site safety.

UK Regulatory Landscape

The UK's Building Safety Act 2022 remains a cornerstone of legislative reform following the Grenfell Tower tragedy. This Act, which gained Royal Assent in April 2022, aims to strengthen the regulatory system for building safety and places greater accountability on duty holders throughout a building's lifecycle. Elements of the Act came into force during 2022 and 2023, with key regulations for duty holders becoming enforceable in England in October 2023. Regulations concerning higher-risk buildings became enforceable in 2024.

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In 2025, the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) transitioned to an arm's-length, independent body, taking over the HSE's building safety regulatory function to bolster accountability and operational independence. The Building Safety Levy is also set to be implemented in England on 1 October 2026, aiming to fund the rectification of unsafe buildings.

Other crucial UK legislation includes the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM 2015), which govern health, safety, and welfare on construction projects, and the Work at Height Regulations 2005.

Irish Regulatory Landscape

In Ireland, the government approved the Construction Safety Licensing Bill in the summer of 2023, which is currently under development. This new regulation will introduce skills-based assessments and a modern licensing model for the construction sector, requiring workers to hold and periodically renew licenses to ensure up-to-date skills and training. This initiative aims to raise safety awareness and minimise accidents by ensuring workers are competent and operate machinery safely.

The Construction Safety Partnership Advisory Committee, in conjunction with the HSA, published the 2025-2027 Action Plan in July 2025. This plan focuses on pushing for safer sites, reducing everyday incidents, and clearer accountability across the industry, with a strong programme of inspections planned by the HSA through 2026.

Common hazards identified on construction sites in both the UK and Ireland include falls from height, moving vehicles and machinery, slips, trips, and falls, manual handling, and exposure to hazardous substances like asbestos and silica dust.

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