News and Updates

On 20 November 2025, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published their 2025 Health and Safety at Work statistics for Great Britain. In this article, we'll examine the key findings around work-related injuries and ill health, consider the economic impact and provide our own recommendations for business managers and owners to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations.

Work-related injuries statistics

Key findings for 2024/25 include:

• 700,000 workers sustained non-fatal workplace injuries (based on self-report)
• 124 workers were killed in work-related accidents

Looking at the long-term view, we are pleased to see a substantial reduction in work-related fatalities. Although any number of fatalities is always too high, the UK does have one of the lowest rates of fatal work-related injury among large European economies.

2024/25 has seen the number of self-reported non-fatal workplace injuries increase slightly on both 2022/23 and 2023/24, with a rate of 2,070 injuries per 100,000 workers (2.1%).

Causes of non-fatal injuries are as follows: Slips, trips and falls on same level (30%); Handling, lifting or carrying (17%); Struck by moving object (10%); Acts of violence (10%); Falls from height (8%).

Industries with the highest rates of non-fatal injury include accommodation/food service activities, construction, transportation/storage and wholesale/retail trade/repair of motor vehicles.

While the long-term figures show a downward trend, increases since the pandemic period demonstrate that companies and businesses must never be complacent with their workplace safety.

Arco recommends…

… conducting a thorough review of your risk assessments and ensuring workers are equipped with appropriate PPE, slip-resistant footwear and task-specific gloves. Our Arco Professional Safety Services team can also support you with workplace audits, safety training and guidance on reducing incidents linked to slips, trips and falls, manual handling and working at height.

Slips, trips and falls make up 30% off all non-fatal workplace injuries, according to the 2025 HSE statistics.

Work-related ill health and mental health at work statistics

Key findings for 2024/25 include:

• 1.9 million workers reported suffering from work-related ill-health (new or long-standing). A rate of 5,360 per 100,000 workers (5.4%)
• 730,000 workers suffering from a new case of work-related ill-health
• 35.7 million working days lost due to ill health

52% off all work-related ill health is classified as stress/depression/anxiety, 27% as Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), with the remaining 21% made up of other types.

Rates of self-reported work-related stress, depression and anxiety have risen above pre-pandemic levels, and workers are now losing more days to these conditions than in 2018/19. Industries with higher-than-average rates of work-related stress, depression and anxiety include public admin/defence, human health/social work and education.

Meanwhile, rates of work-related musculoskeletal disorders and associated lost working days have levelled off, remaining similar to pre-pandemic 2018/19 levels after a previously downward trend.

Arco recommends…

…taking a holistic approach that combines protective equipment with proactive wellbeing measures. This includes ergonomic workwear and gloves to help reduce MSDs, suitable hearing and respiratory protection, and mental health and wellbeing training through Arco Professional Safety Services. We can also support employers with stress risk assessments and solutions that improve overall workforce health and mental health at work.

Occupational lung disease statistics

Key findings for 2024/25 include:

• 11,000 lung disease deaths each year are estimated to be linked to past exposures at work
• 2,218 Mesothelioma deaths occurred in 2023, with a similar number of lung cancer deaths linked to past exposure to asbestos
• 22,000 estimated new cases of breathing or lung problems caused or made worse by work (average over the last three years)

Out of all occupational lung disease deaths, 35% were attributed to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), followed by Non-asbestos related lung cancer (23%), Asbestos related lung cancer (20%), Mesothelioma (20%) and Other diseases (3%).

Annual mesothelioma deaths are projected to fall from 2024 to 2040, while new cases of occupational asthma have stayed broadly steady since 2010, though recent figures are less certain due to pandemic impacts.

Arco recommends…

…ensuring your workforce has access to high-quality respiratory protection, supported by correct selection, face fit testing and ongoing maintenance. Our specialists can help you assess exposure risks, implement effective RPE strategies and provide training on managing hazards such as dust, fumes and asbestos-related risks.

Arco Professional Safety Services can help you implement a full and effective respiratory management programme.

Economic costs and employer responsibilities for health and safety

Estimated economic costs for 2023/24:

• £22.9 billion: Total annual cost of workplace injury and new cases of work-related ill health (excluding long-latency illnesses like cancer)

This is made up of:

• £16.4 billion (=72%) for new cases of work-related ill health
• £6.5 billion (=28%) for workplace injury

Out of this £22.9 billion, individuals bore the largest share (£13.4 billion), with employers (£5.2 billion) and government (£4.3 billion) picking up the rest.

Arco recommends…

…investing in a 'joined up safety' strategy that combines the right PPE and workwear with expert safety consultancy. Our Arco Professional Safety Services team can help you identify cost-saving improvements, strengthen compliance and reduce incident-related downtime – ultimately lowering the financial impact of workplace ill-health and injuries, while ensuring employer responsibilities for health and safety are met.

Expert health and safety advice

As the UK and Ireland's only integrated safety products and service supplier, we are the experts when it comes to keeping you and your people safe. To tap directly into our expertise, check out our safety resources, where you'll find comprehensive advice on safety products, common risks and hazards, plus the latest safety legislation.

If you'd like to speak with us about health and safety training, consultancy, safety solutions or mental health at work, contact Arco Professional Safety Services today.

Call 0330 390 0822 info@arcoservices.co.uk

Sources and useful references

• HSE: Health and safety at work. Summary statistics for Great Britain 2025
• HSE: Historical picture statistics in Great Britain, 2025. Trends in work-related ill health and workplace injury
• HSE: Work-related ill health and occupational disease in Great Britain
• HSE: Work-related stress, depression or anxiety statistics in Great Britain, 2025
• HSE: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders statistics in Great Britain, 2025
• HSE: Non-fatal injuries
• HSE: Costs to Great Britain of workplace injuries and new cases of work-related Ill Health – 2023 to 2024
• HSE: Industries
• HSE: Comparisons with other European countries

Arco, the UK and Ireland's leading safety experts, has opened a specialist centre, which will support companies operating in the Energy sector. Delivering a wide range of best-in-class safety services and products, the Energy Safety Centre will be a go-to facility for customers in the oil and gas, and renewables sectors.

Supporting onshore and offshore operators

Strategically located in Aberdeen, the new centre offers convenient access to Arco's 140+ years' safety experience. From here, customers can rely on Arco's expertise to ensure business continuity at demanding onshore and offshore operations, as well as minimise risk and maximise productivity.

To support this, Arco will provide a wide range of services to keep customers prepared, compliant and safe. These include:

• Specialist training
• Expert face fit testing
• Respiratory servicing
• A product decoration service

In addition, Arco is offering a highly competitive same day offshore kit drop service. This means that, if pre-agreed with a customer, any order placed before 3pm can be delivered the same day.

Enhancing safety in the Energy sector

Alex Richards, Arco's Energy and Export Director, said: "We've been keeping customers in Aberdeen safe for nearly 40 years, and this new centre signifies more than just a move to a new site.

"We're bringing a competitive package to new customers and offering an enhanced service to our existing customers, who are already queuing up to take advantage of the Energy Safety Centre."

Interested?

To see how your business can benefit, please visit and speak to a member of the team at the Energy Safety Centre:

Email: aberdeen.store@arco.co.uk
Tel: 01224 897845
New address:
17-19 Greenrole Trading Estate
Howe Moss Drive
Dyce, Aberdeen
AB21 0GL