The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published its annual report on 2 July 2025, detailing work-related fatalities from 2024/25. The release of the report marks a significant milestone, as Britain’s national workplace safety regulator celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. While Great Britain proudly claims its position as one of the safest places to work in the world, the report reveals that significant challenges remain.
In this article, we review the HSE’s 2025/26 Business Plan, which outlines its strategy to combat fatalities in the years ahead.
A summary of the report findings
The report presents an ambivalent picture of workplace safety in Britain. Between March 2024 and 2025, 124 workers lost their lives in work-related accidents, with male workers accounting for the vast majority (95%) of fatal injuries. Falls from height continue to be the leading cause of workplace fatalities, while the construction and agricultural sectors together account for nearly half (47%) of all fatal injuries by sector.
Particularly concerning is that around 40% of fatal injuries occurred among self-employed workers, highlighting vulnerabilities in this growing segment of the workforce. The report also notes 2,218 mesothelioma deaths in 2023, resulting from historical asbestos exposure. This demonstrates the long-term consequences of chemical workplace hazards, even since the banning of asbestos in 1985.
Fifty years of HSE
Despite these tragic losses, the data shows continuous progress since the Health and Safety at Work Act came into force in 1974. The number of fatally injured employees has fallen by approximately 85% over this period. However, this improvement may be partly attributed to changes in the types of work people now undertake, improved technology and other factors.
As HSE Chief Executive Sarah Albon recently commented: “Great Britain is one of the safest places in the world to work, but we must remember each of these deaths represents a tragedy for families, friends and communities.”
The broader implications
The human cost of workplace hazards extends far beyond workplace accidents. Each year, work-related conditions affect hundreds of thousands of employees and employers. For example, annually, approximately 600,000 people suffer non-fatal injuries in the workplace, 12,000 lung disease deaths are estimated as being linked to past exposures at work and over 500,000 people experience work-related muscle and joint problems. Mental health also plays a significant role, with workplace stress resulting in 16.4 million lost working days annually.
The financial implications are shocking. New cases of work-related health problems cost Great Britain £14.5bn in 2022/2023 alone, encompassing medical treatment, sick pay and lost productivity that affects the entire economy.
The role of HSE
The Health and Safety Executive serves as Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety, with the responsibility of ensuring that risks to people’s health and safety from work activities are controlled and regulated. Its comprehensive approach involves setting and enforcing safety standards across various industries, conducting workplace inspections and providing guidance to employers and workers on accident and occupational disease prevention.
When workplace accidents occur, HSE investigators work to determine the causes and identify whether safety regulations have been breached. The organisation has the authority to take enforcement action, including issuing improvement notices, prohibition notices or pursuing criminal prosecutions against employers who fail to meet their legal duties. It also works to identify emerging risks and develop new safety regulations to protect workers across all economic sectors.
The HSE focuses on the biggest risks, including noise damage, muscle injuries, asbestos exposure, proper use of machinery and equipment and falls from height. Despite fewer cases going to court today, the HSE still wins 94% of prosecutions, demonstrating that proper investigation leads to real consequences for employers who fail to protect their workers.
Legal support for workplace accident clients
If you sustain a workplace injury, specialist legal support is crucial to help secure the rehabilitation and treatment you may need both now and in the future. We specialise in supporting people who have sustained injuries in workplace accidents, which can include cognitive and spinal cord injuries or catastrophic polytrauma, such as neurological conditions, amputations and serious burns. We work with the best experts and case managers in the industry to ensure the optimal outcome for each individual.
We understand that workplace accidents can be life-changing, and we help clients navigate the often-daunting process of making compensation claims against their employers. Our experienced solicitors have secured compensation totalling more than £200m for clients over the past 20 years, including high-level spinal cord injury cases and brain injury cases.
Recent settlements secured for clients involved in an accident at work include a seven-figure settlement for Charlie, a busy and active gentleman. Charlie sustained a spinal injury at work, and the settlement sum has allowed him to regain some of his pre-injury independence. Another recent client, Gerald, sustained a traumatic brain injury while delivering pallets as an HGV driver. With Stewarts’ support, he achieved a seven-figure settlement, enabling him to purchase a bungalow and contribute to his ongoing rehabilitation and treatment. You can read Gerald’s story here.
If you want to know more about bringing an accident in the workplace claim, read the article on our website written by Warren Maxwell.
The future of HSE
As the HSE marks its 50th anniversary, the 2025 annual report clearly shows the progress made, but also outlines the work still to be done.
Partner Nichola Fosler comments: “Each of the 124 fatalities represents a family devastated and a preventable tragedy. Despite the improvements with workplace safety the HSE notes that the challenge ahead lies in maintaining the level of workplace safety while addressing emerging risks and protecting an evolving workforce, particularly in light of advances in technology and the growing number of self-employed workers who face unique vulnerabilities.”
Paralegal Molly Knott contributed to this article.
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