Concerning Trends in UK and Irish Workplace Safety

Recent reports from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in Great Britain and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) in Ireland paint a mixed but generally concerning picture of workplace safety across the UK and Ireland for the 2023/24 period. While both bodies continue their efforts to reduce incidents, the latest figures indicate persistent challenges, particularly in high-risk sectors.

Great Britain: Fatalities See Slight Increase, Ill Health Persists

In Great Britain, a total of 138 workers tragically lost their lives in work-related accidents during 2023/24. This represents a slight increase of two fatalities from the previous year's figure of 136. This upward trend underscores the ongoing need for vigilance and robust safety measures across all industries.

The construction, agriculture, forestry, and fishing, and manufacturing sectors collectively accounted for approximately two-thirds (65%) of these fatal injuries. The most common causes of fatal accidents in Great Britain continue to be falls from height, being struck by a moving vehicle, and being struck by a moving object. Notably, being struck by a moving vehicle alone was responsible for 25 fatal injuries in 2023/24, representing 18% of the total.

The agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector continues to pose significant risks, with a fatal injury rate 21 times higher than the average across all industries. In 2023/24, this sector saw 23 fatal injuries, an increase of two from the previous year. The construction industry's fatal injury rate is also approximately five times higher than the average.

Beyond fatalities, work-related ill health remains a substantial issue. In 2023/24, an estimated 1.7 million workers suffered from work-related ill health. Approximately 776,000 of these cases were attributed to stress, depression, or anxiety. While this shows a slight decrease from the previous year's 1.8 million cases of ill health and 910,000 cases of stress, depression, or anxiety, the current rates remain higher than pre-pandemic levels. These conditions led to an estimated 33.7 million working days lost in 2023/24 due to self-reported work-related ill health or injury. The estimated annual cost of workplace injury and new cases of work-related ill health in Great Britain reached £21.6 billion in 2022/23.

Ireland: Fatalities Decline, Non-Fatal Injuries Increase

In the Republic of Ireland, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) reported a decrease in work-related fatalities in 2024, with 36 fatal incidents compared to 43 in 2023. This represents a 16% reduction and continues a positive long-term trend, with the rate of fatal incidents declining from 2.6 per 100,000 workers in 2004 to 1.3 in 2024. The 2024 fatality rate of 1.2 per 100,000 workers is the lowest recorded since the HSA's inception in 1989.

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Despite this encouraging decline, the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector still accounted for the highest number of fatal incidents in 2024, with 12 fatalities. However, this represents a 40% decrease from 2023. The construction sector also saw a significant reduction in fatalities, dropping by 50% from 10 deaths in 2023 to 5 in 2024. Vehicle-related incidents, incidents involving heavy or falling objects, and falls from height were the leading causes of work-related fatalities in Ireland in 2024.

Conversely, non-fatal workplace injuries reported to the HSA saw an increase. In 2024, there were 10,441 non-fatal incidents reported, a 3% rise from 2023 (10,113 incidents) and 14% above the five-year average. This increase is partly attributed to increased employment levels following COVID-19 related business closures. The Human Health and Social Work Activities sector recorded the highest number of non-fatal incidents among workers (24%), while Education saw the most non-worker injuries (40%). Manual handling was identified as the most common trigger for non-fatal incidents in 2024.

Lost working time remains significant in Ireland, with 688,000 days lost due to injuries and 1,330,000 days lost due to illnesses in 2023, both well above historical averages. Illness rates among females more than doubled between 2019 and 2024, rising from 9.7 to 22.4 per 1,000 workers.

Addressing the Challenges

These statistics highlight the ongoing need for robust health and safety management systems, targeted interventions, and continuous training across both Great Britain and Ireland. Employers must remain vigilant in identifying and mitigating risks, particularly in high-hazard industries and concerning prevalent issues like manual handling and work-related stress. The focus on mental health as a key area of concern by the HSE in its 10-year strategy to 2032 is a welcome development.

For businesses seeking to enhance their health and safety provisions and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, expert training is invaluable. Abertay Training at https://www.abertaytraining.co.uk offers a range of courses designed to equip individuals and organisations with the knowledge and skills necessary to foster safer working environments.