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UK Workplace Fatalities 2024–2025: Key Trends and Sector Risks

Brian Lambert (CMIOSH-IMaPS) — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 08:00:00 +0000

UK Workplace Fatalities 2024–2025: Key Trends and Sector Risks

Insights from the latest HSE figures

Every day, millions of people across the UK head to work and return home safely. Sadly, for some, the day ends in tragedy. Despite strong regulation and safety standards, the world of work remains dangerous — and in some industries, fatal accidents are still a persistent risk.

The latest figures published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reveal the annual work-related fatality statistics for April 2024 to April 2025.

The Numbers at a Glance

Total deaths: 124 workers (down by 14 from the previous year)
Most affected sector: Construction (35 deaths)
Highest fatality rate per 100,000 workers: Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing

Chart Analysis

Construction recorded 35 deaths — the highest in absolute numbers — followed by Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing at 23 deaths. However, when we look at fatality rates, the picture changes dramatically.

Construction fatality rate: 0.39 deaths per 100,000 workers
Agriculture fatality rate: 6.3 deaths per 100,000 workers

This means a person working in farming or forestry is over 16 times more likely to die at work than someone in construction.

Other sectors with notable fatalities:

Transport and Storage: 15
Admin & Support: 13
Manufacturing: 11

What Causes These Deaths?

HSE data shows the leading causes of workplace fatalities remain consistent year after year:

Falls from height: 35
Struck by moving object: 18
Trapped by something collapsing: 17
Struck by moving vehicle: 14
Contact with moving machinery: 13

Falls from height continue to account for the largest proportion of workplace fatalities.

Why Farming and Construction Are So High Risk

The construction industry operates under strict legal frameworks like the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, which set clear duties for clients, designers, and contractors. These controls have saved countless lives — but non-compliance, cost-cutting, and poor planning still lead to preventable tragedies.

Farming, forestry, and fishing face different challenges:

Reliance on unpredictable natural factors
Tight profit margins leading to shortcuts
Older machinery and fewer safety systems

The Takeaway

While overall fatality numbers remain low compared to the size of the UK workforce, every death is a reminder that health and safety cannot be taken for granted.

Employers in all sectors must:

Plan and risk assess all activities
Provide competent supervision and training
Invest in safe systems of work and equipment
Encourage a culture where no one ignores unsafe acts or conditions

Are Your Safety Systems Effective?

Whether you’re in construction, agriculture, or any high-risk sector, Compass HSC can help you identify gaps and reduce risks.

Book a Compliance Review

About Brian Lambert

Brian Lambert (CMIOSH-IMaPS), the founder of Compass Health & Safety Consultancy (HSC), is a Chartered Member of IOSH and an accomplished IMaPS professional. With decades of industry experience, Brian is dedicated to guiding businesses of all sizes through the complexities of health and safety management.

His approach is built on integrity, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to raising the standard in health and safety. As a trusted advisor, Brian’s insights help organisations enhance compliance, reduce risk, and boost operational efficiency.

Connect with Brian on LinkedIn

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In Court: Car Dealership Fined £204,000 After Workers Diagnosed with Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome

Brian Lambert (CMIOSH-IMaPS) — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) remains one of the most preventable occupational health risks — yet too many employers are still failing to manage it properly.
This latest prosecution highlights the serious consequences of neglecting to assess and control vibration risks in the workplace.

The case: Rowes Garage Ltd
Devon and Cornwall-based Rowes Garage Ltd has been fined £204,000 after two employees were diagnosed with Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) following repeated exposure to vibration from tools used at its Truro body shop.

The workers were regularly using random-orbital sanders and reciprocating saws to carry out car body repairs. One of them reported experiencing symptoms of HAVS for around eight years.

What is HAVS?
Prolonged and regular exposure to vibration can cause painful and disabling disorders affecting the

Nerves
Blood supply
Joints
Muscles of the hands and arms

These conditions are collectively known as HAVS. The risk of onset or worsening increases with daily exposure and varies between individuals.

HSE findings
An HSE investigation found that Rowes Garage Ltd had failed to implement the basic elements of vibration risk management:

No suitable and sufficient risk assessment
No effective control measures
No programme of monitoring employee exposure
No information, instruction, or training for employees
No action taken even after years of reported symptoms by the affected employees

The outcome
Rowes Garage Ltd (now registered at Vertu House, Gateshead) pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

The company was fined £204,000 and ordered to pay £8,099 in costs at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court on 8 May 2025.

What this means for employers
HAVS is a preventable condition — but only if employers take their legal responsibilities seriously

Carry out a vibration risk assessment
Implement control measures to minimise exposure
Monitor exposure levels
Provide suitable training and information
Conduct health surveillance and act promptly on any signs or symptoms

Are Your Vibration Controls Compliant?

Compass HSC can help you implement a full vibration risk management programme — from risk assessments and control measures to monitoring and health surveillance. Don’t risk costly fines or employee ill health.

Arrange a HAVS Compliance Review

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In Court: Wood Supplier Fined £40,000 for Failing to Protect Workers from Wood Dust Exposure

Brian Lambert (CMIOSH-IMaPS) — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Exposure to wood dust remains a major occupational health risk — one that is well understood, and fully controllable when the right measures are in place.

Yet despite clear guidance and ongoing HSE campaigns, employers continue to neglect basic protections — with serious legal and financial consequences.

The case: Nat Pal Limited
Fakenham-based Nat Pal Limited has been fined £40,000 after a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspection in April 2023 uncovered serious failings in its controls for managing wood dust exposure.

HSE inspectors found dust scattered across the floor throughout the site, highlighting both poor control measures and a lack of effective housekeeping.

The inspection led to enforcement action — and the company was ultimately prosecuted under Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 for failing to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of its employees.

Why wood dust matters
Breathing in wood dust excessively can cause:

Asthma
Nasal cancer

Both are well-documented occupational diseases — which is why HSE continues to target this issue through proactive inspections across the woodworking industry.

What the law requires
HSE guidance clearly states that employers must take effective measures to prevent employee exposure to wood dust. This normally includes:

Providing and maintaining local exhaust ventilation (LEV) systems
Ensuring face-fit tested respiratory protective equipment (RPE) is used where needed
Carrying out health surveillance to monitor employees’ respiratory health

The outcome
Nat Pal Limited, of Cummings Road, Tattersett Business Park, Fakenham, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

The company was fined £40,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4,072 at Norwich Magistrates’ Court on 16 May 2025.

The lesson
The woodworking sector remains a key focus for HSE enforcement — and this case highlights how quickly companies can find themselves in court when basic precautions are neglected.

With proactive inspection campaigns ongoing, it’s essential that all businesses handling wood dust review their controls now — before enforcement action is taken.

Is Your Wood Dust Control Up to Standard?

Don’t risk enforcement action or employee health — Compass HSC can audit your existing wood dust controls, advise on best practices, and help you achieve compliance with current HSE expectations.

Book a Compliance Audit

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HSE Fee for Intervention — What You Need to Know

Brian Lambert (CMIOSH-IMaPS) — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Since 2012, businesses that breach health and safety law can find themselves footing the bill for their own investigation.
This is the reality of the HSE’s Fee for Intervention (FFI) scheme — a powerful mechanism designed to recover the costs of enforcement directly from those who break the law.

With the current FFI rate now set at £183 per hour, the potential cost of non-compliance is higher than ever.

What is Fee for Intervention?
The HSE introduced FFI in October 2012, to shift some of the costs of health and safety regulation away from the public purse — and onto businesses that fail to meet their legal obligations.

Originally set at £124 per hour, the FFI rate has steadily increased and now stands at £183 per hour.

Under the scheme, duty holders — including public and limited companies, self-employed individuals, partnerships, and public bodies — are liable for the HSE’s investigation costs if they are found to be in “material breach” of health and safety law.

What counts as a material breach?
A breach is considered material when, in the opinion of the HSE inspector, it is serious enough to require formal written notification — usually in the form of a Notification of Contravention (NoC).

The NoC will include:

The law that has been breached
The reason(s) for the inspector’s opinion
Notification that a fee is payable to the HSE

How does the fee process work?
Once a NoC has been issued:

The HSE will begin invoicing every two months until the investigation is concluded.
The total amount recovered depends on the amount of time it takes for the HSE to identify the breach and assist the duty holder in achieving compliance.

Can FFI charges be challenged?
Yes — duty holders have the right to challenge:

The finding of a material breach, and/or
The amount of time charged by the HSE.

To do so, they must raise a query within 21 days of receiving the FFI invoice. The query is initially reviewed by the HSE inspector’s Principal Inspector (line manager).

Recent HSE campaign focus areas
Many recent HSE campaigns have focused on occupational health risks — an area where FFI costs are frequently triggered.

Key focus areas have included:

List:

Occupational health and exposure to metal cutting fluids (respiratory risk prevention)
Wood dust control (respiratory risk prevention)
Machine guarding
COSHH compliance
Construction site welfare facilities
Hand arm vibration prevention

What this means for your business
If your site or workplace is found in breach of any of these focus areas — or any other aspect of health and safety law — you could quickly face significant FFI charges on top of the cost of achieving compliance.

Prevention is always the better path. Ensuring compliance before HSE intervention not only protects your employees — it protects your bottom line.

Is Your Business FFI Ready?

Don’t wait until an HSE inspection leaves you with mounting Fee for Intervention charges. Compass HSC can help you identify compliance gaps, prepare your site, and avoid costly enforcement action.

Arrange a Compliance Review

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IOSH Working Safely — Empowering Employees to Understand and Manage Workplace Risks

Brian Lambert (CMIOSH-IMaPS) — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Keeping employees safe at work starts with knowledge. The more your people understand the hazards around them — and how to work safely with them — the stronger your safety culture will become.

That’s why Compass HSC offers the internationally recognised IOSH Working Safely course: a highly interactive, one-day certified training designed specifically for employees in all sectors and roles.

We are proud to be an accredited licensed provider of IOSH Working Safely — delivering this vital training to help organisations of all types raise awareness and improve safety performance from the ground up.

Who is the course for?
This one-day course is aimed at all employees — across industries and job functions — to help them better understand everyday hazards in the workplace and how to manage them effectively.

Course structure
The IOSH Working Safely course is structured into four key parts:

Part One: Introduction
Part Two: Defining hazards and risk
Part Three: Identifying common hazards
Part Four: Improving safety performance

Delegates also complete a short hazard identification test to reinforce learning.

The total tuition time is 6 hours. The course is non-technical, highly interactive, and fully inclusive — with discussions and group exercises that enhance the learning experience.

Each delegate receives a comprehensive IOSH Working Safely workbook to support their learning.

Certification
On successful completion, each delegate is awarded an official IOSH Gilded Crest Certificate of Achievement — a recognised endorsement of their understanding of safe working principles.

Why it matters
Embedding a positive safety culture starts at employee level. When workers fully understand how hazards arise — and how their actions affect both personal and team safety — behaviours begin to shift for the better.

Training is one of the most effective ways to drive that change — and IOSH Working Safely is one of the best entry-level courses available to support that goal.

Compass HSC can help

We run IOSH Working Safely courses regularly throughout the year — both on-site and via arranged training sessions to suit your business needs.

If you want to give your employees the knowledge and confidence to work more safely, contact us today to arrange your next IOSH Working Safely training.

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New Support for Developers & Builders: Helping You Meet Your Legal Duties

Brian Lambert (CMIOSH-IMaPS) — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 08:00:00 +0000

The UK construction sector is vast and varied—from re-pointing a brick wall or fixing a leaking roof, through to complex infrastructure projects like HS2. But one thing is consistent across the entire industry: every project is subject to vital health and safety regulations.

And here lies the problem.

Many smaller developers and builders—especially those operating in the £250k to £800k project range—remain unaware of their legal duties. We see this daily at Compass HSC. Domestic housing schemes, one-off refurbishments, and smaller commercial builds often proceed without proper regard to the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015), or many of the other key regulations that apply on every site:

The Working at Height Regulations
Control of Asbestos Regulations
Control of Noise at Work Regulations
Control of Vibration Regulations
COSHH Regulations (for respirable building materials including wood and silica)

The numbers speak volumes. As of early 2024, around334,000 self-employed individuals were working in the UK construction and building trades—representing roughlyone-third of the sector’s 2.08 million workforce. Many of these workers are operating on sites where developers and clients have little understanding of their duties under CDM 2015 or other regulations.

Real-World Consequences

Two recent cases highlight the risks:

Sherwood Homes was fined£76,000 for multiple health and safety failings on two domestic construction sites in Preston and Tarporley. The company failed to meet basic CDM responsibilities—including inadequate site management and failure to notify projects to the HSE (via F10).

Nofax Enterprises Ltd (London) was fined£63,000 plus costs after multiple serious failures were found on a four-storey residential project in Dalston. The site was closed twice due to:

Uncontrolled working at height
Poor fire precautions
Exposure to silica and wood dust
Inadequate COVID and welfare controls

Both cases underline a critical truth:lack of awareness is not a defence. Developers and builders are legally accountable for managing health and safety, even on smaller sites.

A New Resource to Help You Comply

Recognising the urgent need to support this under-served part of the construction sector, Compass HSC has created a brand-newDevelopers & Builders landing page. Our goal is to make compliance more accessible, practical, and achievable for smaller developers, builders, and contractors.

This dedicated online hub will provide:

Clear guidance on CDM 2015 requirements: What you need to know and do as a developer, principal contractor, or designer.
Summaries of key regulations: Understand your duties under Working at Height, Asbestos, Noise, Vibration, COSHH, and more.
Real-life case studies: Learn from recent enforcement cases and understand how to avoid similar pitfalls.
Practical tips and resources: For raising standards on smaller sites without unnecessary bureaucracy.
Links to additional support: Access further expert advice from Compass HSC where needed.

Our aim is toempower developers and builders to manage health and safety confidently, reduce risks, and comply with their legal duties—without being overwhelmed.

Whether you’re a developer overseeing a domestic build, or a builder working as principal contractor, this new resource will help you stay on the right side of the law—and protect everyone working on your site.

The new landing page will be live shortly—watch this space and be ready to take advantage of the resources and guidance on offer.

Compass HSC can help

If you need tailored support—from CDM advice and policy reviews to site audits and hands-on project support—we’re here to help.

Contact us today to discuss how we can help your project comply with the law, protect your workforce, and deliver safely.

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Construction Sector Fatalities on the Rise: Time to Tackle the Real Causes

Brian Lambert (CMIOSH-IMaPS) — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 08:00:00 +0000

The construction industry continues to hold the unwanted title of one of the most dangerous sectors in the UK. New figures released by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) paint a sobering picture: of the 138 work-related fatalities reported across all sectors in 2024, 51 occurred in construction alone.

This is the third consecutive year of rising construction fatalities:

2022: 42 deaths
2023: 47 deaths
2024: 51 deaths

To put this in wider context:

Year	Fatalities
2013/2014	42
2014/2015	35
2015/2016	43
2016/2017	30
2017/2018	38
2018/2019	30
2019/2020	40
2020/2021	39
2021/2022	42
2022/2023	42
2023/2024	47
2024/2025	51

Falls from height continue to be the leading cause, accounting for approximately 50% of all construction fatalities.

But the physical event—the fall—is not the root cause.

The deeper factors that consistently drive these tragic outcomes are:

Lack of proper supervision
The prevalence of self-employed workers operating without oversight
Cost-cutting at the expense of safety

And often, all three factors combine to create the perfect storm.

The cultural challenge

Too many construction sites continue to prioritise programme and budget over safe working practices. In small and medium-sized projects—and in many domestic refurbishments—there remains a dangerous mindset: “We’ve done it this way for years” or “It’s only a quick job.”

This mindset is what drives shortcuts, inadequate planning, and a lack of leadership at site level.

At Compass HSC, we see this daily in our work with developers, small builders, and contractors. A lack of clarity around roles, supervision, and culture is often the biggest contributor to unsafe acts on site.

What needs to change?

Leadership matters. Site managers and supervisors must be trained and empowered to drive safe behaviour.
Supervision matters. Self-employed workers must not be left to manage high-risk tasks unsupervised.
Culture matters. If the priority is “get it done” rather than “get it done safely,” accidents will continue.

Compass HSC can help

Our tailored consultancy services help developers, builders, and contractors strengthen their site culture, improve supervision, and embed a safety-first mindset—not just compliance on paper, but leadership on site.

Whether through site audits, leadership coaching, or hands-on CDM and compliance support, we work with businesses to tackle the real causes behind these statistics.

If you want to be part of the change—and not the next HSE headline—get in touch.

Call Compass HSC today on (01253) 735755 or visit compasshsc.co.uk.

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IOSH Managing Safely: Essential Training for Supervisors and Line Managers

Brian Lambert (CMIOSH-IMaPS) — Mon, 12 May 2025 20:21:13 +0000

Line managers and supervisors play a vital role in workplace health and safety. Yet, many are promoted into these positions without any formal training in safety leadership or management responsibilities. That’s where the IOSH Managing Safely course comes in.

Offered by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), this certified course is designed specifically for line managers, supervisors, and anyone with responsibility for influencing or controlling others in the workplace. It’s one of the most respected and widely delivered health and safety training programmes available.

At Compass HSC, we deliver this course monthly—and consistently receive outstanding feedback from delegates across a wide range of industries. Whether your organisation operates in construction, manufacturing, logistics, care, or professional services, the course delivers lasting value and practical insight.

The IOSH Managing Safely course runs over three days and consists of seven structured modules:

Introducing Managing Safely
Assessing Risk
Controlling Risk
Understanding Your Responsibilities
Common Hazards
Investigating Accidents and Incidents
Measuring Performance

Each participant receives a comprehensive workbook to support their learning, and the course includes both an assessment and a practical risk assessment project.

Not only does the training equip managers with the tools they need to carry out their duties safely and effectively—it also provides organisations with vital protection against liability. Ensuring that front-line leaders are informed, trained, and confident can significantly reduce incidents and the risk of prosecution.

—

Interested in enrolling your team? Compass HSC runs the IOSH Managing Safely course every month.

📞 Call (01253) 735755 or contact us to book or learn more.

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Engineering Firm Fined £100,000 After Worker Crushed by Metal Frame

Brian Lambert (CMIOSH-IMaPS) — Mon, 12 May 2025 08:00:00 +0000

An engineering firm based in Greater Manchester has been fined £100,000 after a serious incident left one of its employees with multiple crush injuries to his arms, legs, and feet.

On 27 September 2023, Richard Jones was welding a large metal ‘A frame’ at Oldham Engineering Limited’s facility in Oldham. The frame, weighing approximately 1.63 tonnes, was an unusual shape and needed to be repositioned and rotated frequently to allow horizontal welding—an essential requirement for weld quality.

Mr Jones was inside the frame welding a bracket when it suddenly shifted and toppled over. With no physical barrier or restraint in place, the massive metal structure landed directly on him, crushing his left arm, left leg, and right foot. The incident caused catastrophic injuries that will likely impact Mr Jones for the rest of his life.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found significant failings in the company’s approach to risk management. Oldham Engineering Ltd had not conducted a suitable and sufficient risk assessment for the job. There was no clear safe system of work, no documented method for safely rotating the frame, and no evidence of task-specific training or supervision for high-risk activities involving suspended loads.

The company also failed to consider the predictable consequences of performing welding work within and beneath a suspended, heavy structure—a known hazard in fabrication environments. The lack of physical safety measures and procedural controls was a serious breach of duty.

At a hearing on 8 April 2025, Oldham Engineering Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £100,000 and ordered to pay £4,519.90 in costs at Manchester Magistrates’ Court.

This case serves as a sobering reminder that when complex or non-routine tasks are undertaken without robust planning, the consequences can be devastating. Employers must ensure that all activities involving heavy loads, unusual structures, or elevated risks are rigorously assessed and controlled.

Are your risk assessments keeping up with the demands of your operations? Compass HSC provides tailored workplace assessments, procedural planning, and onsite support for engineering and manufacturing environments.

📞 Contact us today to strengthen your safety systems and protect your workforce.

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Social housing provider fined after men exposed to the risks from vibrating tools

Brian Lambert (CMIOSH-IMaPS) — Fri, 09 May 2025 08:00:00 +0000

A leading social housing provider has been fined £140,000 after two estate assistants were diagnosed with Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) following years of regular exposure to vibrating tools.

Stonewater Limited employed the two men at sites near Tanyard Farm in Coventry between 2018 and 2023. Their roles included extensive grounds maintenance tasks such as grass cutting, hedge trimming, weeding, and litter picking. One of the employees estimated he spent up to 90% of his working day using vibrating equipment such as mowers, strimmers, hedge cutters, and leaf blowers.

HAVS is a painful and often permanent condition that affects the nerves, blood vessels, and joints in the hands and arms. One of the affected workers, Christopher Smith, shared the serious impact the condition has had on his quality of life:

“I have lost my fine motor skills and experience significant difficulty in picking up small objects, using a knife and fork, or even doing up buttons. The pain keeps me up at night. I’m terrified to hold my grandchildren in case I drop them.”

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that Stonewater Limited had failed to:

Carry out a suitable risk assessment for vibration exposure
Record and monitor exposure levels accurately
Provide employees with adequate training or information on vibration risks
Implement a system of health surveillance to detect symptoms early

The company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. At a hearing at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on 14 April 2025, Stonewater Limited was fined £140,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,742.

This case is a stark reminder of the real human impact of poor risk management and the importance of proactive control measures for vibration exposure in the workplace.

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