Workplace Accident Hazards Under Scrutiny
Most Dangerous Industries for Workplace Injuries and Fatalities in the UK Revealed
According to the latest data analysed by money.co.uk business savings and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), certain industries in the UK pose a higher risk of workplace injuries and fatalities. Here's a breakdown of the sectors with the most incidents.
Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing tops the list with 23 fatal workplace injuries between April 2024 and March 2025. This sector has the highest fatality rate per 100,000 workers, with a rate of just over 8.01.
The Construction industry comes in second, with 35 deaths and a fatality rate of around 1.65. Despite having fewer fatalities than agriculture, construction remains one of the top industries for deadly workplace accidents.
Transportation and Storage ranks third, with 15 deaths and a fatality rate of just under 1 per 100,000 workers. This sector has entered the top three for the first time, replacing manufacturing.
Other sectors with notable fatalities include waste collection and water supply, but they have significantly lower fatality rates than the top three.
Key causes of fatalities across these dangerous industries include falls from height (35 deaths, leading cause), being struck by moving objects (18 deaths), and being trapped by collapsing/overturning objects (17 deaths).
The analysis by money.co.uk underscores the importance for businesses in these high-risk sectors to establish contingency savings to handle the financial impact of workplace injuries.
Summary Table: Fatal Injuries in UK Industries (2024/25)
| Rank | Industry | Fatal Injuries | Fatality Rate (per 100,000 workers) | |-------|----------------------------------|----------------|------------------------------------| | 1 | Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 23 | 8.01 | | 2 | Construction | 35 | 1.65 | | 3 | Transportation and storage | 15 | 0.98 | | 4 | Waste collection/treatment | 3 | 2.76 | | 5 | Water supply, sewerage, waste management | 4 | 1.68 |
Joe Phelan, an expert from money.co.uk business savings, offers tips on building a safety net to help mitigate the impact of workplace injuries.
In addition to the industries mentioned above, sectors like Education, Wholesale and Retail Trade, Repair of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles, Administrative and Support Service Activities, Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities, Human Health and Social Work Activities, and Public Administration and Defence, compulsory social security also reported significant numbers of injuries.
The figures show a decrease of 14 from the previous 12-month period, with 135 workers killed in work-related incidents in Great Britain in the last year. The data was released this week by a leading UK insurance broker.
- To ensure workplace-wellness and maintain financial stability, industries like Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing, Construction, and Transportation and Storage should prioritize science-backed safety measures.
- The data reveals that, while sectors like Education, Wholesale and Retail Trade, and Public Administration and Defence also report significant injuries, the highest risks of fatalities are in the industries of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing, Construction, and Transportation and Storage.
- In light of the high incidence of workplace injuries in various industries, it's crucial for businesses to consider health-and-wellness initiatives and establish contingency funds for business savings to handle the financial impact of such incidents.
