HSE Statistics

Work-related ill heath:

• 1.7 million affected in 2023/24, including
• Stress, depression or anxiety: 776,000 
• musculoskeletal disorders: 543,000 cases

Fatal workplace injuries:

• Total across all industries (2024/25): 124 deaths (down from 138)
• Construction sector: 35 fatalities (five-year average: 40) 

Lost working days: 

• 33.7 million due to injury or ill health

Economic cost:

• £21.6 billion- total estimated annual cost of injury or ill health

Asbestos-related fatalities: 

• Mesothelioma caused 2,218 deaths in 2023

Key insights for your projects: 

• Health Risks Impact Productivity: With 1.7 million workers affected by illness and over 33 million days lost, maintaining workforce health directly supports cost control and project timelines. 
• Construction Still High Risk: Despite a decline, the 35 construction fatalities highlight persistent vulnerabilities. Falls from height remain a leading cause, reinforcing the importance of early-stage design mitigation and vigilant oversight. 
• Asbestos Still a Silent Threat: With 2,218 mesothelioma fatalities linked to historic exposures, stringent protocols for refurbishment, demolition, and surveys remain critical, especially in older or mixed-use assets. 
• High Economic Stakes: At 21.6 Billion annually, the cost of poor health and safety is runaway. Proactive safety leadership is not just regulatory, it’s strategic. 

What This Means for You (the Client)

• Prioritise Early Risk Review: Engage with your Principal Designer to embed safe systems of work and height-risk controls before design lock-in.  
• Invest in Health Culture: Embed mental health support and ergonomic considerations in your workforce planning, these are major contributors to ill health. 
• Mandate Asbestos Awareness: Ensure that asbestos surveys and management are non-negotiable in contract documents and QS specifications. 
• Measure Safety ROI: Use these HSE benchmarks to track improvements in injury rates, incident severity, and lost days, then communicate these as project value metrics. 

Upcoming Focus Areas for 2025-26

• Construction Regulator & Building Safety Act: Post-Grenfell, statutory oversight and contractor licensing systems are evolving. Keep informed on implementation timelines. 
• Digital Safety Tools: Apps, wearable PPE, and AI-enabled hazard recognition are gaining traction, especially in high-risk sectors. 
• Mental Health: Expect new regulatory focus or guidance, even if not yet reflected in fatality stas, mental health is now firmly on the HSE’s agenda. 

Your Support Team

As your principal designers & H&S advisors, our services include: 

• CDM compliance oversight and audit. 
• Pre-construction information and risk coordination 
• Site-specific hazard management (e.g. asbestos, working at height)