126 Workers Killed in Workplace Accidents in 2025/ 26, HSE Data Shows
07.07.2026 - 00:37:26 | boerse-global.de
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published its provisional annual work-related fatality figures for 2025/26, revealing that 126 workers lost their lives in workplace accidents. While this represents a slight decrease of two deaths compared to the previous year, the figures serve as a stark reminder to UK employers that workplace safety remains a critical priority. The total is among the lowest recorded outside the pandemic years, and continues a long-term downward trend — 20 years ago the annual death toll stood at 217, while in 1981 it was 495.
Construction Remains the Deadliest Sector
The construction industry recorded the highest absolute number of workplace deaths, with 25 fatalities. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing followed closely with 22 deaths, though this sector maintained the highest fatal injury rate per 100,000 workers across all main industrial categories.
Falls from height were the leading cause of workplace fatalities, responsible for 31 deaths in the 2025/26 period.
Vulnerable Worker Groups
The statistics highlighted particular risks for certain groups. Workers aged 60 and over accounted for 40 deaths, despite representing only 12% of the total workforce. The self-employed — who make up just 15% of the workforce — accounted for one-third of all workplace fatalities.
Separately, deaths of non-workers rose to 104, marking the fourth consecutive annual increase in this category.
Occupational Health: Asbestos and Health Surveillance
Beyond immediate accident fatalities, the HSE reported on long-term occupational health risks. In 2024, there were 2,146 deaths from mesothelioma, a cancer caused by past asbestos exposure — a decrease of 109 deaths compared to 2023.
In a significant move to strengthen health oversight, the HSE issued its first Prohibition Notice against an occupational health provider on July 6, 2026. The regulator took action due to inadequate health surveillance involving unqualified personnel and a lack of proper supervision. The HSE warned that such failures increase the risk of undetected occupational diseases, including asthma, skin conditions, and noise-induced hearing loss.
Investigations and Legal Actions
The release of the annual figures coincided with updates on several high-profile safety investigations. Following a fire at Bicester Motion on May 15, 2025, which killed three firefighters, police announced they would not pursue criminal charges. The HSE has now taken the lead on the ongoing investigation.
In recent legal proceedings, South Warwickshire construction firm Sibbasbridge Limited was fined £16,000 on June 29, 2026. The penalty followed a July 2024 incident in which a 65-year-old bricklayer sustained permanent injuries after falling 2.6 metres into an unprotected light well.
The HSE is also continuing its investigation into high radon levels at Dartmoor Prison. Reports emerged in late 2025 indicating that radon levels in the prison kitchen had reached nearly ten times the legal limit before the facility was closed in August 2024.
Glyphosate Renewal and Health Inactivity
The HSE is currently managing the renewal process for glyphosate in Great Britain, with an assessment and public consultation scheduled for summer 2026. The current approval for the substance has been extended to December 15, 2026.
Meanwhile, more than 250 major UK employers — including Tesco, Royal Mail, and British Airways — have joined a task force led by Sir Charlie Mayfield. The initiative aims to address health-related economic inactivity, which is estimated to cost the UK £212 billion annually.
Call to Include Work-Related Suicides in Reporting
An open letter published in the BMJ on July 6, 2026, has called on the HSE to include work-related suicides in its mandatory reporting consultations. The letter estimates that approximately 600 suicides per year in Great Britain may be linked to workplace factors.
