Health & Safety Statistics (Work-related fatal injuries reportable under RIDDOR)

Source: “Statistics – Index of Tables,” Hse.gov.uk, 2023, https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/tables/index.htm.

Work-related fatal injuries to workers (employees and the self-employed) in Great Britain by main industry, 2019/20 – 2023/24

In the year 2023/24, there were 138 fatal injuries to workers across all industries, with 88 employees and 50 self-employed individuals affected. The rate of fatal injury per 100,000 workers was 0.42, with a higher rate among the self-employed at 1.04.
The Agriculture, forestry and fishing industry had a significantly high rate of fatal injury per 100,000 workers at 7.51, with 23 fatal injuries in total. The rate was even higher among the self-employed in this industry at 9.74.
The Construction industry reported 51 fatal injuries, the highest among all industries. The rate of fatal injury per 100,000 workers in this industry was 2.43.
The Manufacturing industry had 16 fatal injuries with a rate of 0.64 per 100,000 workers.
The Waste collection, treatment and disposal activities; materials recovery industry had a high rate of fatal injury per 100,000 workers at 3.88.
The Transportation and storage industry reported 11 fatal injuries all of which were employees, with a rate of 0.68 per 100,000 workers.
The Administrative and support service activities industry had 12 fatal injuries with a rate of 0.82 per 100,000 workers.
Industries with the lowest rates of fatal injury per 100,000 workers included the Public administration and defence; compulsory social security; education; human health and social work activities industry at 0.03, and the Arts, entertainment and recreation; other service activities; activities of households as employers; undifferentiated good-and-services-producing activities of households for own use; activities of extraterritorial organisations and bodies industry at 0.25.

Work-related fatal injuries to members of the public in Great Britain by main industry, 2019/20 – 2023/24

In the year 2023/24, there were 87 fatal injuries to members of the public across all industries.
The Agriculture, forestry and fishing industry had a total of 4 fatal injuries in 2023/24.
The Manufacturing industry had 1 fatal injury in 2023/24.
The Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply industry had no fatal injuries in 2023/24.
The Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities industry had 1 fatal injury in 2023/24.
The Construction industry reported 3 fatal injuries in 2023/24.
The Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; accommodation and food service activities industry had 10 fatal injuries in 2023/24.
The Transportation and storage industry reported 22 fatal injuries in 2023/24, the highest among all industries.
The Information and communication; financial and insurance activities; real estate activities; professional, scientific and technical activities; administrative and support service activities industry had 7 fatal injuries in 2023/24.
The Public administration and defence; compulsory social security; education; human health and social work activities industry had 28 fatal injuries in 2023/24.
The Arts, entertainment and recreation; other service activities; activities of households as employers; undifferentiated good-and-services-producing activities of households for own use; activities of extraterritorial organisations and bodies industry had 11 fatal injuries in 2023/24.

Please note that these figures are provisional for 2023/24 and will be finalised in July 2025 following any necessary adjustments. The figures are for work-related fatal injuries in Great Britain reportable under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR). They include deaths as a result of a work-related accident, though the injured person was ‘not at work’ themselves. It should be noted that these statistics do not include incidents to ‘patient and service users’ in England for premises registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Work-related fatal injuries to workers (employees and self-employed) in Great Britain by kind of accident, 2019/20 – 2023/24

In the year 2023/24, there were 138 fatal injuries to workers in Great Britain, with 88 employees and 50 self-employed individuals affected.
The most common kind of accident was Falls from a height, which accounted for 50 fatal injuries.
The second most common kind of accident was being Struck by moving vehicle, which resulted in 25 fatal injuries.
The third most common kind of accident was being Struck by moving, including flying/falling, object, which resulted in 20 fatal injuries.
The least common kinds of accidents were Exposure to fire and Injured by an animal, each resulting in 1 fatal injury.
There were 5 fatal injuries each due to Contact with electricity or electrical discharge and Other kind of accident.
There were no fatal injuries due to Injured while handling, lifting or carrying, Slips, trips or falls on same level, Drowning or asphyxiation, Exposure to, or contact with, a harmful substance, Exposure to an explosion, and Acts of violence.

Work-related fatal injuries to workers (employees and self-employed) in Great Britain by age, 2019/20-2023/24

In the year 2023/24, there were 138 fatal injuries to workers in Great Britain, with 88 employees and 50 self-employed individuals affected. The rate of fatal injury per 100,000 workers was 0.42, with a higher rate among the self-employed at 1.04.
The age group with the highest number of fatal injuries was 65+, with 30 fatal injuries. This group also had the highest rate of fatal injury per 100,000 workers at 2.12.
The age group 55-59 and 60-64 both had 21 and 15 fatal injuries respectively, with a similar rate of fatal injury per 100,000 workers at 0.64.
The age group 35-44 had 24 fatal injuries, the second highest number among all age groups. The rate of fatal injury per 100,000 workers in this age group was 0.32.
The age group 45-54 had 20 fatal injuries with a rate of 0.27 per 100,000 workers.
The age group 25-34 had 15 fatal injuries with a rate of 0.20 per 100,000 workers.
The age group 20-24 had 5 fatal injuries with a rate of 0.19 per 100,000 workers.
The age group 16-19 had 4 fatal injuries with a rate of 0.40 per 100,000 workers.
There were no fatal injuries reported for workers under the age of 16.
There were 4 fatal injuries where the age of the worker was unknown. The rate of fatal injury for this group is not applicable.

Work-related fatal injuries to workers (employees and self-employed) in Great Britain by country and region, 2019/20 – 2023/24

In the year 2023/24, there were 138 fatal injuries to workers in Great Britain, with 88 employees and 50 self-employed individuals affected. The rate of fatal injury per 100,000 workers was 0.42, with a higher rate among the self-employed at 1.04.
In England, there were 113 fatal injuries to workers, with 76 employees and 37 self-employed individuals affected. The rate of fatal injury per 100,000 workers was 0.39.
The region with the highest number of fatal injuries was the North West, with 22 fatal injuries. The rate of fatal injury per 100,000 workers in this region was 0.62.
The region with the lowest number of fatal injuries was the North East, with only 1 fatal injury. The rate of fatal injury per 100,000 workers in this region was 0.08.
In Scotland, there were 18 fatal injuries to workers, with a rate of fatal injury per 100,000 workers of 0.65.
In Wales, there were 7 fatal injuries to workers, with a rate of fatal injury per 100,000 workers of 0.48.
The region with the highest rate of fatal injury per 100,000 self-employed workers was Scotland at 2.98, followed by the North West at 2.46.
The region with the highest rate of fatal injury per 100,000 employees was the North West at 0.38.
The region with the lowest rate of fatal injury per 100,000 employees was the North East at 0.09.
The region with the lowest rate of fatal injury per 100,000 self-employed workers was the East of England at 0.22.