UK Construction Fatalities Decline, But Falls from Height Remain a Major Concern

Provisional annual data from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for Great Britain indicates a reduction in construction-related worker fatalities for the 2024/25 period. A total of 35 workers tragically lost their lives in construction incidents, a decrease from 50 fatalities in 2023/24. This figure is also below the five-year average of 40 deaths for the period 2020/21 to 2024/25. However, the construction sector continues to account for a significant proportion of all work-related fatalities in the UK, representing 28% of the total in 2024/25. The fatal injury rate in construction is approximately five times higher than the all-industry average.

Falls from height remain the most common cause of fatal injuries across all industries in the UK, accounting for 35 deaths in 2024/25. In the construction sector specifically, falls from height were responsible for over half of all fatalities over the five-year period from 2020/21 to 2024/25. Other significant causes of fatal injuries include being struck by a moving object and being trapped by something collapsing or overturning.

Beyond fatalities, work-related ill health in the UK construction sector remains a substantial issue. An estimated 79,000 workers suffered from new or long-standing work-related ill health averaged over 2022/23 to 2024/25. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) account for 53% of these cases, impacting approximately 41,000 workers, a rate notably higher than the all-industry average. Stress, depression, or anxiety affected approximately 15,000 construction workers, representing about 19% of all ill-health cases in the sector.

Concerning Rise in Irish Construction Fatalities in 2025

In contrast to the UK, Ireland's construction sector experienced a worrying increase in fatalities in 2025. Provisional figures from the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) show that 10 construction workers died in work-related incidents, double the five deaths reported in 2024. This contributed to an overall sharp rise in work-related fatalities across all sectors in Ireland, with 58 deaths in 2025, up from 36 in 2024. The HSA's Annual Report 2025 further indicates that 61 people lost their lives in work-related incidents, marking the highest annual workplace death toll since 2007. The fatality rate increased from 1.3 per 100,000 workers in 2024 to 2.1 per 100,000 in 2025.

The HSA has emphasised that well-known incident triggers, such as machinery or vehicle incidents and falls from height, are not being adequately controlled, leading to these preventable deaths. Falls from height accounted for 60% of the 93 fatalities in the Irish construction industry between 2014 and 2023. In 2023, 7 of the 10 construction fatalities were due to falls from height. Self-employed workers continue to face significant risks, accounting for 40% of all work-related fatalities in Ireland in 2025.

In response to these trends, the HSA launched a nationwide inspection campaign in October 2024, specifically targeting the dangers associated with working at height on construction sites. The campaign aims to promote compliance with safety regulations and reduce accidents and fatalities. Key focus areas include risk assessments and safety planning, training and competence of workers, and the proper use of fall prevention equipment.

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Regulatory Focus and Industry Initiatives

Both the UK and Irish regulatory bodies are actively working to improve construction safety. In the UK, the HSE continues to support initiatives like 'Working Well Together' (WWT), an industry-led programme aimed at providing health and safety advice to SMEs, the self-employed, and micro-businesses in the construction sector. The WWT initiative, strongly supported by the HSE and CONIAC, has been running for over twenty years and operates through a network of regional groups.

The UK government is also implementing significant reforms to toughen construction safety rules, including plans for a new single construction regulator following recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. This regulator will oversee construction product regulation, building control, and the licensing of contractors for higher-risk buildings. Additionally, criminal liability for individual site managers is a key focus of upcoming changes in UK construction safety laws.

In Ireland, the Construction Safety Partnership Advisory Committee (CSPAC), in collaboration with the HSA, launched a three-year Action Plan (2025–2027) in July 2025. This plan aims to foster collaboration between trade unions, the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), the HSA, and other industry representatives to create a safer working environment. The CIF's annual Construction Safety Campaign, which ran from October 13-24, 2025, with the theme 'Back to Basics,' encouraged a renewed focus on fundamental safety principles such as leadership, supervision, communication, and safe systems of work. Daily themes during the campaign included critical risks, utilities safety, falls from height, and developing the next generation.

The importance of robust risk assessments is being increasingly highlighted by the HSA, especially in light of the 2025 fatality figures. They stress that effective risk assessments go beyond paperwork, focusing on real tasks, clear controls, and regular reviews to ensure everyone understands safe working practices. With increased HSA inspections planned for 2026, employers are urged to refresh assessments and strengthen supervision.

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