HSE Reports 135 Worker Fatalities in Great Britain for 2023/24
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has released its provisional annual statistics for work-related fatal injuries in Great Britain for 2023/24. The data reveals that 135 workers tragically lost their lives due to workplace incidents during the period, representing a persistent challenge in ensuring worker safety across various industries. While the figure shows a slight decrease from the previous year's 138 fatalities, it underscores the ongoing need for vigilance and robust safety measures.
These provisional statistics, published annually, provide a critical snapshot of the most severe outcomes of workplace hazards. They serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of inadequate health and safety management and guide regulatory bodies, employers, and safety professionals in targeting interventions and improving practices.
Key Sectors and Causes of Fatalities
Analysis of the 2023/24 data highlights several sectors that continue to be disproportionately affected by fatal injuries:
- Construction: This sector consistently accounts for the largest number of worker fatalities. For 2023/24, construction recorded 45 fatal injuries, reflecting the inherent risks associated with working at height, moving machinery, and heavy materials.
- Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing: This sector, despite employing a relatively small proportion of the workforce, continues to have one of the highest rates of fatal injury. Provisional figures show 21 fatalities in this sector, often linked to vehicle movements, livestock, and machinery.
- Manufacturing: The manufacturing sector reported 15 fatal injuries, often involving contact with machinery, falling objects, and vehicle incidents.
- Transportation and Storage: This sector saw 16 fatalities, frequently related to vehicle collisions, falls from height, and being struck by moving vehicles.
The three most common causes of fatal injuries across all sectors remain consistent year-on-year:
- Falls from height: This category continues to be the leading cause of death, accounting for a significant proportion of all fatalities.
- Being struck by a moving vehicle: Incidents involving vehicles, whether on-site or during transportation, are a persistent and dangerous hazard.
- Being struck by a moving object: This includes incidents involving falling objects, objects ejected from machinery, or objects being handled by others.
These statistics reinforce the importance of fundamental safety principles, such as working at height regulations, safe systems of work for vehicle movements, and proper machinery guarding and operation.
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Long-Term Trends and Regulatory Response
While the overall number of fatalities has seen a long-term downward trend since the early 1980s, the rate of decline has slowed in recent years. The 135 fatalities in 2023/24 represent a fatal injury rate of 0.40 deaths per 100,000 workers. This rate, while among the lowest in Europe, indicates that significant work remains to be done to achieve the vision of zero harm.
The HSE's Chief Executive, Sarah Albon, emphasised the agency's commitment to preventing future tragedies. In response to the provisional data, she stated, "Every fatality is a tragedy, and our thoughts are with the families of those who have died. While the long-term trend shows a reduction in fatalities, 135 lives lost is 135 too many. We must continue to work with employers, workers, and other stakeholders to ensure that risks are properly managed and that workplaces are safe."
The HSE continues to focus its enforcement activities and campaigns on high-risk sectors and common causes of injury. This includes targeted inspections, guidance development, and collaborative initiatives with industry bodies to raise awareness and promote best practices. The regulator also highlights the importance of reporting all incidents, near misses, and occupational diseases to build a comprehensive picture of workplace risks and inform preventative strategies.
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