What Britain’s 2025/26 fatal injury statistics mean for construction businesses

The latest statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) highlight a stark reality. 126 workers lost their lives in work-related accidents across Great Britain in 2025/26, with construction again reporting the highest number of fatalities.

Despite long-term improvements, these figures underline a persistent challenge for the UK construction sector. Known risks continue to cause serious harm.

For construction businesses, the message is clear. Awareness alone is not enough. The priority must now shift towards consistent implementation of controls, stronger competence and a proactive safety culture.

Key takeaways

• 126 workers were killed in 2025/26
• Construction recorded the highest fatalities with 25 deaths
• Falls from height remain the leading cause of fatal incidents
• Known risks continue to drive serious injuries
• Strong safety culture and workforce competence are critical

Construction continues to record the highest fatalities

Construction consistently records one of the highest fatal injury rates due to the complex and high-risk nature of its activities.

Workers are regularly exposed to hazards such as:

• Working at height
• Moving vehicles and plant
• Excavations and groundworks
• Heavy machinery
• Lifting operations
• Temporary works

While these risks are well understood, the data shows that understanding hazards does not always translate into safe outcomes. The challenge lies in how effectively risk controls are applied on site.

Falls from height remain the biggest risk

Falls from height remain the leading cause of workplace fatalities, accounting for around a quarter of all worker deaths.

For construction businesses, this is particularly significant, as working at height remains a routine part of:

• Roofing and scaffolding
• Structural works
• Maintenance and installation
• Civil engineering projects

Despite clear regulations and guidance, incidents continue to occur. Common contributing factors include:

• Poor planning and risk assessment
• Inadequate supervision
• Unsafe or incomplete access arrangements
• Defective or poorly maintained equipment
• Missing edge protection
• Failure to follow established procedures

Construction businesses should prioritise robust work at height controls, supported by better planning, supervision and real-time oversight.

Compliance is the foundation, not the finish line

The UK construction industry operates within a well-defined regulatory framework. However, compliance alone does not guarantee safety. Many organisations involved in serious incidents have documented policies in place. The key difference often lies in how consistently those controls are implemented in practice.

Leading organisations go beyond compliance by ensuring safety expectations are:

• Clearly communicated
• Actively monitored
• Consistently enforced on site

Why competence remains critical

Construction work often involves complex and high-risk tasks. Ensuring workers have the right skills, knowledge and experience is essential.

Businesses should regularly review:

• Competency frameworks
• Training records and refresher schedules
• Site-specific inductions
• Supervisor capability
• Ongoing development needs

Competence should be treated as an ongoing process, not a one time check. As projects evolve, so must the workforce’s ability to manage changing risks.

Why safety culture is critical

While systems and procedures are essential, safety culture determines how effectively they are followed.

A positive culture encourages workers to:

• Raise concerns
• Report hazards
• Stop unsafe work
• Share lessons learned

When employees feel empowered to speak up, organisations can identify risks earlier and prevent serious incidents.

Turning insight into action

Fatality statistics should be used as a tool for improving decision-making, not simply reporting performance.

Construction businesses should ask:

• Are high-risk activities receiving enough attention?
• Are safety procedures consistently followed on site?
• Do we have confidence in workforce competence?
• Do workers feel able to raise concerns?
• Are lessons learned being shared effectively?

Answering these questions helps organisations move from reactive compliance to proactive risk management.

Raising standards across the supply chain

Improving safety performance is a shared responsibility across the construction supply chain, including:

• Clients
• Main contractors
• Subcontractors
• Suppliers

Collaboration, transparency and consistent standards are essential for improving outcomes across projects. Recognised third party certification schemes also play a key role in helping organisations demonstrate commitment to health and safety best practice.

Final thoughts

Britain’s latest fatal injury statistics reinforce a long-standing message. Known risks continue to cause serious harm. Construction remains the highest-risk sector, and falls from height continue to be the leading cause of fatalities. For UK construction businesses, the priority must be clear. Move beyond compliance and focus on:

• Stronger planning and supervision
• Ongoing competence development
• Consistent implementation of controls
• Building a positive safety culture

Only by doing so can the industry reduce fatalities and prevent future tragedies.

Strengthen your safety performance with CHAS

With over 30 years of experience, CHAS provides trusted, expert-led assessments that help contractors:

• Demonstrate compliance with industry standards
• Strengthen risk management processes
• Build trust with clients and supply chains
• Pre-qualify for work and win more contracts

By supporting consistent standards and best practices, CHAS helps construction businesses improve safety performance across every project.