Overview of the Latest HSE Provisional Figures
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published its provisional annual figures on work-related fatal injuries across Great Britain, capturing data for the 2025/26 reporting period. According to the report, 126 workers lost their lives in work-related accidents during this timeframe, representing a slight decrease of two deaths compared to the 128 fatalities recorded in 2024/25.
When assessed against long-term historical metrics, the current fatal injury rate stands at 0.37 deaths per 100,000 workers. While this positions Great Britain favourably compared to many international counterparts, regulatory authorities emphasize that any work-related fatality is entirely preventable. Furthermore, the data recorded 104 deaths among members of the public due to work-related incidents, marking an increase from previous years and highlighting that safety duties extend far beyond direct employees.
High-Risk Sectors and Dominant Hazard Categories
An analysis of the 2025/26 figures demonstrates that traditional high-risk industries continue to account for the disproportionate majority of workplace tragedies. Construction remained the sector with the highest overall number of worker fatalities, registering 25 deaths. Close behind was the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector, which recorded 22 fatalities, alongside manufacturing with 18 and transportation and storage with 15.
Across all sectors, the primary mechanisms of fatal accidents have remained stubbornly consistent over successive reporting periods:
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- Falls from height: Remaining the leading cause of occupational death, accounting for 31 fatalities.
- Struck by a moving vehicle: Responsible for 24 worker deaths.
- Struck by a moving object: Accounted for 21 fatalities.
- Trapped by collapsing or overturning structures: Caused 18 deaths.
These figures underline the reality that well-documented operational risks continue to bypass existing safety controls, pointing to persistent gaps in risk assessment, site supervision, and active hazard mitigation.
Vulnerable Demographics: The Ageing Workforce
Beyond industry-specific dangers, the latest HSE research draws sharp focus onto demographic vulnerabilities, particularly the shifting profile of the modern workforce. Workers aged 60 and over accounted for approximately 32% of all worker fatalities in 2025/26, despite making up only about 12% of the overall working population.
Longer-term HSE analysis indicates that fatal injury rates compound significantly with age. Individuals aged 65 and over experience a fatal injury rate roughly four times the all-age average. Safety bodies urge employers to adapt their management strategies to better support older staff—factoring in physical capabilities, ergonomic adjustments, and effective job rotation to manage fatigue. Organisations aiming to address these systemic risks and cultivate robust safety frameworks can access comprehensive guidance and certified provisions through Abertay Training at https://www.abertaytraining.co.uk.