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Deaths down, but construction remains the most fatal sector
Cristina Lago Deputy Editor
There were 35 construction fatalities in the year to March, reports the HSE (Image: Me Picture Akacin via Dreamstime.com)
Thirty-five construction workers were killed in work-related incidents between April 2024 and March 2025, the latest Health and Safety Executive (HSE) annual fatalities statistics show.
Although this brings the number of construction worker deaths back to pre-covid levels and represents a considerable reduction from 2023/24 and 2023/22, when 51 and 47 construction workers died, respectively, construction continued to account for the largest share (28%) of fatal injuries to workers across all industries last year.
However, the rate of fatal injuries in construction, which accounts for the number of deaths per 100,000 workers, is considerably lower (1.65) than the rate in agriculture, forestry and fishing (8.01), although still higher than the all-industry average (0.37).
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Rate of fatal injuries per 100,000 workers by industry in 2024/25 and the annual average for 2020/21 and 2024/25 (source: HSE)
In total, 124 workers were killed at work during the last reporting period in Scotland, England and Wales. The figures were 223 two decades ago (2004/05) and 495 in 1981, said the HSE.
Falls from height
The most common cause of fatal injuries over the last year continued to be falls from a height (35 deaths). A markedly higher proportion of worker deaths in construction were due to this kind of accident compared to other industries.
More than half of all deaths in construction between 2020/21 and 2024/25 were due to falls from height, at an average of 21 deaths per year.
Number of fatal injuries by industry in 2024/25 and the annual average for 2020/21 and 2024/25 (Source: HSE)
The HSE data also shows that 45% of construction deaths were of self-employed workers, nine percentage points higher than the average across all industries. The HSE said this disproportionate share of fatal injuries in part reflects the greater proportion of self-employed workers in higher-risk industries.
A further 92 members of the public were killed in work-related incidents in 2024/25, four of which happened in construction-related accidents.
Decline in asbestos-related deaths
The HSE has also published the annual figures for mesothelioma, a cancer caused by past exposure to asbestos. They show that 2,218 people died from the disease in 2023, which is 62 fewer deaths than in 2022 and substantially lower than the average of 2,508 deaths per year between 2011 and 2020.
Current mesothelioma deaths reflect exposure to asbestos that often occurred before the 1980s. Annual deaths are expected to continue declining in the next decade.
HSE's chief executive, Sarah Albon, said: “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.
“Despite the stability in numbers, we cannot accept that fatal accidents are an inevitable part of working life. We are encouraged by the long-term trend, but urge against complacency on workplace safety.
“Our practical and proportionate guidance is available for free on our website, and further support is available if needed.”
The January/February 2026 issue of Construction Management magazine is now available to read in digital format.
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