Great Britain remains one of the safest places in the world to work, according to new analysis published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) alongside its annual workplace fatality statistics for 2025/26.
The latest figures show that 126 workers were killed in work-related incidents during the year.
Excluding the years affected by the coronavirus pandemic (2019/20 to 2021/22), this is provisionally the lowest annual total ever recorded, compared with 217 fatalities in 2005/06 and 495 in 1981.
For the first time, HSE has compared Great Britain’s fatal injury rates with those of 35 countries worldwide, enabling direct comparison beyond Europe. The analysis found that Great Britain continues to maintain its position as one of the safest places to work.
Construction and agriculture remain highest risk
Construction recorded the highest number of workplace fatalities with 25 deaths, followed by agriculture, forestry and fishing with 22.
Agriculture, forestry and fishing also continued to record the highest fatal injury rate at 8.09 deaths per 100,000 workers, followed by the waste and recycling sector at 5.47.
Across all industries, the average fatal injury rate was 0.37 per 100,000 workers.
Falls from height remained the leading cause of fatal workplace injuries, accounting for 31 deaths, around one quarter of all worker fatalities during 2025/26.
Older workers remain disproportionately affected
Workers aged 60 and over accounted for 40 workplace fatalities, representing around one third of all deaths despite making up only 12 per cent of the workforce.
The HSE also reported that 104 members of the public who were not at work died as a result of work-related incidents during 2025/26.
Mesothelioma deaths continue to decline
Alongside the workplace fatality statistics, HSE published its latest figures for mesothelioma, the cancer caused by historic exposure to asbestos.
A total of 2,146 people died from mesothelioma in Great Britain during 2024, a reduction of 109 deaths compared with 2023 and significantly below the average annual total of 2,508 recorded between 2011 and 2020.
HSE said many current mesothelioma cases continue to reflect asbestos exposure that occurred before the 1980s, with annual deaths expected to continue declining over the coming decade.
Occupational diseases excluded
The workplace fatality figures relate only to work-related accidents and do not include deaths arising from occupational diseases or illnesses resulting from workplace exposures.
HSE’s Chief Executive, Sarah Albon, said: “Every one of these numbers represents a loved one lost; serving as a powerful reminder of the importance of the work we do.
“We can be proud that Great Britain remains one of the safest places in the world to work, and the new analysis we have developed this year, for the first time, allows us to compare our safety record with a wide range of other advanced economies.”
