Construction’s work-related fatality rate revealed  

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has revealed that 45 construction workers were killed in work-related incidents across Great Britain in the past year. 

According to the figures, construction saw the highest number of fatalities, followed by agriculture, forestry and fishing with a combined 21 deaths. 

The figures, which cover the period from April 2022 to March 2023, show that 135 workers died in work-related incidents across all industries. This figure is higher than the previous year (123) but in line with pre-pandemic levels. 

The three most common causes of fatal injuries across all industries are falls from height (40), being struck by a moving object (29), and being struck by a moving vehicle (20). 

HSE’s chief executive Sarah Albon said: “Any loss of life in the workplace is a tragedy. 

“While these figures show Great Britain is one of the safest countries in the world to work, safety must continue to be at the top of everyone’s agenda. 

“Our mission is to protect people and places and we remain committed to maintaining safe workplaces and holding employers to account for their actions.” 

HSE has also published the annual figures for Mesothelioma, a cancer caused by past exposure to asbestos.  

The figures show 2,268 people died from the disease in 2021. This is a fall of 302 compared with the 2,570 deaths in 2020, and substantially lower than the average of 2,520 deaths per year over the period 2012-2019. 

Asbestos-related diseases take decades to develop. Most people with them today will largely have been exposed before the tightening of controls and the use of asbestos was banned in 1999. 

Find HSE’s guidance on asbestos here.