HSE Annual Report 2023/24 Insights: The Growing Challenges of Health and Safety in Construction
This week, the HSE released its annual report on work-related ill health and injury for 2023/24. The report* provides a detailed summary of data collected through various sources, such as the Labour Force Survey, to shine a light on workplace fatalities, injuries, and occupational diseases.
Construction once again ranks as one of the most hazardous industries, accounting for the highest number of workplace fatalities. While this is partially explained by the size of the industry—construction workers make up 6% of the UK workforce—the intrinsic risks of construction work continue to play the largest role.
This blog explores the trends behind the concerning statistics, highlighting the rise in fatalities and injuries after years of steady improvement.
Fatalities on the Rise
A stark finding from this year’s report is the rise in fatalities. 51 deaths were recorded in this reporting period—a significant increase compared to the 30 fatalities recorded in 2018/19. While year-to-year figures can vary, this surge is alarming when viewed against the five-year average of 42 fatalities, reflecting a 70% increase.
Beyond fatal accidents, 47,000 non-fatal accidents and 78,000 cases of ill health among construction workers were also recorded in the same period. These figures emphasise an unsettling truth: many of these incidents are preventable.
The leading causes of fatalities remain consistent, with the top five reasons being:
Falls from height (accounting for over 50% of fatalities)
Trapping incidents caused by collapsing or overturning structures
Being struck by flying or falling objects
Being struck by moving vehicles
Contact with electricity or electrical discharge
The data helps underline the danger – the fatal injury rate in construction is 1.96 per 100,000 workers, nearly five times the all-industry average.
This points to a disheartening truth. If the five-year trend holds steady, we risk seeing another 250 lives lost to completely preventable causes by 2029. The industry simply must do better.
The Hidden Statistics
Fatalities, unfortunately, only tell part of the story. Construction workers also face significant long-term health risks, including a high prevalence of respiratory conditions and occupational cancers.
For example, construction workers in the UK are nearly twice as likely to develop lung disorders compared to the all-industry average. Conditions such as asthma and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) not only impact daily quality of life but also carry serious—even fatal—consequences over time.
Occupational cancers, in particular, are a well-documented but less publicised concern. Back in 2005, there were an estimated 8,000 cancer-related deaths due to work-related exposures, with 3,500 of these deaths occurring among construction workers. Similarly, in 2004, 5,400 of the 13,600 new cancer diagnoses reported nationally were attributed directly to construction work.
The primary cause has historically been asbestos—a material many male construction workers, especially those born in the 1940s, were routinely exposed to throughout their careers. While asbestos use in the UK was banned in 1999, it persists in older structures, and exposure remains a concern in developing nations.
Additionally, construction workers face risks from silica dust exposure, which caused 500 cancer deaths in 2005. If exposure to silica is not better controlled, we may witness a concerning spike in related illnesses and fatalities in coming years.
The Growing Challenge of Mental Health
Construction workers face unique pressures that often result in poor mental health outcomes. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS)**, 507 workers in the construction sector took their own lives in 2021—the last year with industry-specific data available.
For every life lost to an accident, another 10 lives are lost to suicide. The suicide rate among construction workers is four times the national average, highlighting a critical yet often overlooked area of workplace safety.
Fortunately, organisations such as Band of Builders, On the Tools, Construction Sport, and Mates in Mind are helping to raise awareness of the issue and provide vital support. However, more resources are needed to continue increasing awareness, building support systems, and addressing the root causes driving these high rates.
The HSE report does not currently include mental health statistics, but these figures demand serious attention. With the construction industry so disproportionately affected, greater awareness and targeted strategies are essential to save lives.
A Call for Change
Statistics presented by the ONS in 2021** are troubling, to say the least:
Construction workers are nearly five times more likely to die from a workplace accident than the average worker.
They are four times more likely to take their own lives compared to the national average.
They are twice as likely to develop serious lung conditions (and those figures likely underrepresent the true scale of the issue).
It should not—and cannot—be acceptable for these realities to persist. There is no “magic bullet” solution. It will take sustained effort from industry leaders, policymakers, and workers alike to implement both physical and psychological health and safety measures.
Everyone in the industry has a role to play. Ask yourself what actions you can take to promote a safer work environment, advocate for mental health resources, and reduce the risks for future generations of construction workers.
Learn from Experts
If you’re seeking insights into why construction remains such a dangerous industry and how behavioural safety initiatives can help, check out Dr. Tim Marsh’s Praktis Series.
Dr. Marsh, founder and MD of Anker & Marsh, explores the intersection of behavioural safety programmes, mental health, and strategies for implementing successful safety initiatives.
Together, we can help make construction safer for everyone—physically and mentally. The time to act is now.
Available Exclusively On Praktis.
References
* Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Annual Statistics 2023/24.
Accessed: https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/index.htm
** ONS (2021) Suicide by occupation, England: 2011 to 2015: Analysis of deaths from suicide in different occupational groups for people aged 20 to 64 years, based on deaths registered in England between 2011 and 2015.
Accessed: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/articles/suicidebyoccupation/england2011to2015#references