UK HSE Statistics Review 2025

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has released its latest Health and Safety at Work Summary Statistics for Great Britain 2024/25, and the findings highlight both progress and persistent challenges across UK workplaces. At Candy Management Consultants, we support organisations in building safer, compliant, and more resilient work environments. These annual figures provide valuable insight into where risks are rising, where improvements are working, and where businesses must focus their efforts going forward. 

Below, we break down the key statistics and what they mean for employers seeking to strengthen their health and safety management systems. 

Work-Related Ill Health: A Growing Crisis 

1.9 million workers affected 

1.9 million workers affected 

The latest data shows 1.9 million workers suffered from work-related ill health in 2024/25, including both new and long-standing conditions. Ill health continues to be the leading cause of lost working time and business disruption. 

Mental health remains the dominant issue 

• Almost 1.0 million workers experienced stress, depression, or anxiety. 

• These conditions now account for over half of all work-related ill health cases. 

The increase reflects pressures around workload, organisational change, and broader social and economic challenges. At Candy Management Consultants, we continue to see demand for structured wellbeing support, stress risk assessments, and ISO 45001-aligned management systems that embed psychological health into safety planning. 

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) still widespread 

• Over 0.5 million workers suffered MSDs linked to manual handling, repetition, and poor ergonomics. 

MSDs frequently impact industries such as manufacturing, logistics, construction, and health & social care but are increasingly common in office-based environments where poor workstation design leads to strain injuries. 

Workplace Injury: Under-Reporting Remains a Concern 

A little less than 0.7 million workers sustained a self-reported non-fatal injury 

Self-reported injuries remain significantly higher than employer-reported cases from the Labour Force Survey (LFS), indicating ongoing under-reporting at organisational level. 

59,219 RIDDOR-reported injuries 

These represent the most serious injuries requiring official reporting. The gap between this figure and the 0.7 million self-reported suggests: 

• inadequate reporting culture 

• fear of blame or disciplinary action 

• lack of knowledge around RIDDOR obligations 

Fatalities 

• 124 worker deaths were recorded in 2024/25. 

While fatal incidents remain historically low, they are a reminder that high-risk sectors, especially construction, agriculture, transportation, and manufacturing, require continuous vigilance. 

At Candy Management Consultants, we emphasise the importance of robust risk assessments, training, and leadership engagement to reduce preventable incidents.

Long-Term Occupational Disease: Historical Exposures Still Taking Lives 

The HSE continues to report significant numbers of deaths linked to historic workplace exposures: 

• 11,000 lung disease deaths each year caused by past exposure to hazardous substances. 

• Among them 2,200 mesothelioma deaths in 2024/25 – with a similar number of asbestos-related lung cancer deaths. 

Although modern controls are far stronger, these figures highlight the long-term impact of inadequate past safety practices. They also reinforce the need for: 

• strict control of hazardous substances 

• regular COSHH assessments 

• asbestos management plans 

• proper monitoring and record-keeping 

These are areas where businesses often require external support to ensure compliance. 

Economic Impact: The Financial Cost of Poor Health & Safety 

The financial implications remain substantial: 

• £16.4 billion – cost of new work-related ill health cases 

• £6.5 billion – cost of workplace injuries 

• £22.9 billion – total cost of work-related ill health and injury 

These figures exclude long-latency illnesses such as cancer, meaning the true cost is even higher. 

Additionally, 40.1 million working days were lost in 2024/25 due to ill health and injury. 

For employers, the message is clear: 
investing in health and safety is significantly cheaper than dealing with the consequences of poor controls. 

What These Statistics Mean for UK Businesses 

Based on the latest HSE data, organisations should prioritise the following: 

1. Strengthen Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategies 

With stress affecting one million workers, businesses must integrate mental health into their health & safety systems. This includes stress risk assessments, improved communication, workload management, and supportive leadership. 

2. Improve Ergonomics and Manual Handling Controls 

Given the high volume of MSDs, employers should ensure: 

• ergonomic assessments 

• suitable equipment 

• correct handling techniques 

• regular reviews of physical work tasks 

3. Reinforce Reporting Procedures 

The under-reporting gap highlights a cultural issue. Businesses must: 

• train staff on RIDDOR 

• promote a no-blame reporting culture 

• review their incident reporting processes 

4. Enhance Competence and Training 

Effective training reduces risk across all categories – physical safety, mental health, chemical exposure, and more. 

Candy Management Consultants offers a wide range of CPD-certified training courses and tailored support to build internal competence. 

5. Implement or Upgrade Management Systems 

ISO 45001 (Occupational Health & Safety Management) provides a structured framework for: 

• proactive risk control 

• incident reduction 

• strong leadership involvement 

• continual improvement 

Our consultants help businesses design systems that are practical, realistic, and aligned with operational needs. 

Final Thoughts from Candy Management Consultants 

The 2025 HSE statistics reinforce a clear message: 
Workplace health and safety is evolving, and organisations must evolve with it. 

While the UK has made progress in reducing serious injuries and fatalities, ill health, particularly mental health, continues to rise. The financial and human costs are too significant for businesses to overlook. 

As specialists in ISO certification, risk management, and health & safety support, Candy Management Consultants is here to help organisations: 

• reduce risk 

• improve compliance 

• build a positive safety culture 

• protect their people 

• and ultimately strengthen business performance 

If you want a safer, more efficient workplace in 2025 and beyond, our team can guide you at every step. 

Get Expert Support

Whether you need ISO guidance, safety training, or a full risk management overhaul, our consultants are here to help. Contact us today.