HSE 2024 Statistics Reveal Biggest Cause of Construction Fatalities

THE CONSTRUCTION sector recorded the highest number of all work-related fatalities in 2023/24, the Health and Safety Executive’s annual statistics show.

51 out of 138 deaths occurred in the construction industry. This is in comparison with an annual average of 42 fatalities over a five-year period.

More than half (52%) of these deaths were caused by falls from height, followed by being trapped by something collapsing and being struck by a moving object (both 11%).

The fatal injury rate in construction is 1.96 per 100,000 workers. This is around 4.9 times the all-industry rate.

Prior to the pandemic, the rate of fatal injury to workers in construction showed a downward trend with signs of flattening out in more recent years. However, while the rate of fatal injury is prone to year-on-year fluctuations, the average rate to construction workers in the last two years is statistically higher than the pre-pandemic period.

Many people are injured each year when they fall from scaffold towers or when a tower overturns. The incidents that occur are mainly caused by defects in the erected scaffold and dismantling. Find scaffold competent person training or view HSE’s guidance on tower scaffolds here.

Non-Fatal Injuries

There were an estimated 4,050 non-fatal injuries to construction employees in 2023/24. Of those, 1,532 (38%) were specified injuries and 2,518 (62%) were injuries resulting in the incapacitation of a worker for over seven days.

Falls from height were again the biggest cause of specified non-fatal injuries (33%), followed closely by slips, trips or falls on the same level (30%). Meanwhile, accidents caused by handling, lifting or carrying were the most common cause for injuries resulting in incapacitation (24%).

Work-related Ill Health

There were an estimated 78,000 construction workers suffering from a work-related illness.

Musculoskeletal disorders accounted for over half (52%) of work-related ill health. A further 18% of workers were estimated to suffer from work-related stress, depression or anxiety, and 0.23% developed a work-related breathing or lung problem.

Overall, an estimated 2.5 million working days were lost in the construction sector in 2023/24 due to self-reported work-related ill health (83%) or injury (17%).

HSE Chief Executive Sarah Albon said: “This year marks 50 years since the legislation which established HSE was passed. Much has been achieved in that time, including a dramatic reduction of around 85 per cent in the numbers of employee fatal injuries in the workplace.

“Today, Great Britain is one of the safest places in the world to work but these statistics serve as a reminder that there is still room for further improvement, and we remain committed to ensuring people remain safe and healthy wherever work is taking place.”

Download the HSE 2024 annual construction statistics here.

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