Contrasting Trends in Workplace Safety Across UK and Ireland
Recent statistics from regulatory bodies highlight divergent trends in workplace safety across the UK and Ireland. While Great Britain has achieved its lowest recorded number of worker fatalities in 2025/26, the Republic of Ireland experienced a significant increase in work-related deaths in 2025. These figures underscore the ongoing importance of robust health and safety measures and targeted interventions in high-risk sectors.
Irish Workplace Fatalities See Sharp Increase in 2025
Provisional figures released by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) indicate a concerning rise in work-related fatalities in Ireland. In 2025, 58 people tragically lost their lives in workplace incidents, representing a substantial 61% increase from the 36 fatalities recorded in 2024. This brings the fatality rate to 2.1 deaths per 100,000 workers, up from 1.3 in 2024, marking the highest rate since 2020.
The agriculture sector continues to be the deadliest, accounting for 23 deaths in 2025, which is approximately 40% of all work-related fatalities, despite employing only about 4% of the workforce. This represents a near doubling from 12 deaths in agriculture in 2024. Construction also saw a doubling of fatalities, rising from 5 in 2024 to 10 in 2025. Furthermore, the manufacturing sector recorded 5 deaths in 2025, up from zero the previous year.
Key causes of these fatal incidents included being struck by a vehicle (14 deaths) and being hit or crushed by falling objects (14 deaths). Self-employed workers accounted for a disproportionate 40% of all fatalities in 2025. Additionally, workers aged 65 and over represented 33% of fatalities, with the oldest victim being 88 years old, highlighting the particular risks faced by older workers.
Looking back, 2024 had seen a positive trend with 36 fatal work-related incidents, a decrease of 16% from the 43 recorded in 2023. The long-term trend in Ireland has shown a decline in the rate of fatal incidents over the past two decades, from 3.4 per 100,000 workers in 2003 to 1.6 in 2023. However, the 2025 figures serve as a stark reminder that vigilance and continuous improvement are essential.
Great Britain Achieves Record Low in Worker Fatalities
In contrast to Ireland, Great Britain has reported its lowest annual total of worker fatalities on record, excluding years affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to figures published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 126 workers were killed in work-related incidents in 2025/26. This marks a reduction from 138 deaths in 2024/25. The UK's fatal injury rate now stands at 0.37 deaths per 100,000 workers, a significant drop from 2.1 per 100,000 in 1981, demonstrating an over 80% reduction in risk over four decades.
Despite this overall positive trend, certain sectors continue to present higher risks. Construction recorded the highest number of workplace fatalities in 2025/26 with 25 deaths, followed closely by agriculture, forestry, and fishing with 22 deaths. When considering the rate of fatalities, agriculture, forestry, and fishing remains the most dangerous sector in Great Britain, with 8.09 deaths per 100,000 workers, significantly above the national average.
Related training: If you are looking to qualify as a trainer in this area, see COSHH assessor training or explore lone worker safety training for nationally recognised UK and Ireland qualifications.
Falls from height continue to be the leading cause of fatal workplace accidents, accounting for 31 deaths in 2025/26, nearly a quarter of all worker fatalities. Another notable demographic trend is that workers aged 60 and over accounted for around a third (40) of all fatalities, despite making up only approximately 12% of the national workforce.
In the previous reporting period, 2023/24, there were 138 worker fatalities in Great Britain. The construction sector accounted for 51 deaths, and agriculture, forestry, and fishing for 23 deaths in 2023/24. The three most common causes of fatal injuries in that period were falls from height, being struck by a moving object, and being struck by a moving vehicle.
Non-Fatal Injuries and Illnesses Remain a Challenge
Beyond fatalities, both countries continue to grapple with a substantial number of non-fatal injuries and work-related illnesses. In Ireland, 10,441 non-fatal injuries were reported to the HSA in 2024, a 3% increase from 2023 and 14% higher than the five-year average. Manual handling and slips/falls were the most common triggers for these incidents. The Human Health and Social Work Activities sector recorded the highest number of worker incidents (24%), while Education saw the most non-worker injuries (40%) in 2024. A significant 688,000 days were lost due to injuries and 1,330,000 days due to illnesses in Ireland in 2023, both well above historical averages.
In Great Britain, 680,000 workers sustained a non-fatal workplace injury in 2024/25, an increase from 604,000 the previous year. These injuries led to an estimated 40.1 million working days lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury combined in 2024/25. Work-related ill health affected an estimated 1.9 million workers in 2024/25, with mental health conditions, specifically stress, depression, or anxiety, being the primary driver, affecting 964,000 workers. The annual cost of workplace injury and new cases of work-related ill health in Great Britain was estimated at £22.9 billion in 2023/24.
These statistics reinforce the critical need for continuous investment in health and safety training, risk assessment, and preventative measures across all industries. Employers and employees alike have a role to play in fostering safer working environments.
For organisations seeking to enhance their safety protocols and ensure compliance, Abertay Training offers a comprehensive range of health and safety courses and consultancy services. Visit https://www.abertaytraining.co.uk for more information.