UK Construction Fatalities See Worrying Increase

The UK construction sector continues to grapple with significant safety challenges, as provisional statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) indicate a rise in worker fatalities. For the period spanning April 2023 to March 2024, 51 workers tragically lost their lives in the construction industry in Great Britain. This marks an increase of four fatalities from the previous year's total of 47 and is notably higher than pre-pandemic levels.

Construction 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. The fatal injury rate in construction stands at approximately five times the all-industry average.

Falls from height consistently remain the leading cause of fatal injuries in construction, contributing to over half (52%) of these deaths in 2023/24. Other significant causes include being struck by a moving vehicle or object, and being trapped by something collapsing or overturning.

Beyond fatalities, the construction sector also reported an estimated 78,000 workers suffering from work-related illnesses in 2023/24. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) 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's Fluctuating Safety Landscape

In Ireland, the safety landscape in the construction sector has shown a more varied trend. Provisional data from the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) initially indicated a significant reduction in construction sector fatalities in 2024, with a 50% decline from 10 fatalities in 2023 to five in 2024.

This achievement contributed to Ireland recording its lowest-ever rate of work-related fatalities in 2024, with a total of 33 people losing their lives in work-related incidents across all sectors – a reduction of almost a quarter from the 43 fatalities reported in 2023.

However, more recent provisional figures for 2025 reveal a concerning reversal. The HSA reported a sharp rise in overall work-related fatalities in Ireland, with 58 deaths in 2025, up from 36 in 2024. The construction sector, in particular, saw its fatalities double in 2025, with 10 deaths recorded, compared to five in 2024.

Similar to the UK, falls from height, incidents involving machinery or vehicles, and being struck by falling objects were identified as leading causes of workplace fatalities in Ireland. Mark Cullen, CEO of the HSA, emphasised that these incidents are preventable and can be managed through proper risk assessment and forward planning.

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The HSA has also highlighted that well-known incident triggers, such as machinery or vehicle incidents and falls from height, are not being adequately controlled, contributing to these preventable deaths. Between 2015 and 2024, 70 construction workers died from falls from height across the island of Ireland.

Regulatory Frameworks and Ongoing Efforts

Both the UK and Ireland continue to strengthen their regulatory frameworks to enhance construction site safety. In the UK, the Building Safety Act 2022, which gained Royal Assent in 2022, is a landmark piece of legislation aiming to improve the safety of buildings, particularly higher-risk residential structures. It establishes new oversight bodies, such as the Building Safety Regulator (BSR), and strengthens accountability 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 relating to higher-risk buildings came into force in 2024. The Act introduces a 'golden thread' of information for higher-risk buildings and requires enhanced fire safety systems.

In Ireland, the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013 remain the primary legislative framework. An amendment in 2019 (S.I. No. 129 of 2019) facilitated the recognition of equivalent registration cards to Safe Pass and construction skills certification schemes from other states. Furthermore, the Irish government approved the Construction Safety Licensing Bill in summer 2023, which is currently under development. This new regulation will introduce skills-based assessments and a modern licensing model, requiring periodic health and safety training for all relevant construction site personnel.

The HSA also launched an inspection campaign focusing on silica dust in construction, highlighting the ongoing effort to address 'silent killers' that cause long-term health issues. The shift from a 'tick-box' paperwork exercise to a behavioural audit is a significant change, requiring site managers to observe whether crews are actually using safety equipment and if their behaviour aligns with site safety statements.

These statistics and regulatory developments underscore the critical need for continuous improvement in safety practices and enforcement across the construction industry in both the UK and Ireland. Employers and workers alike must remain vigilant and proactive in identifying and mitigating risks to ensure that everyone returns home safely at the end of each day.

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