As the HSE’s most recent construction safety statistics demonstrate Construction remains one of the UK’s most hazardous industries — and the latest figures show why constant vigilance and training matter more than ever.
What the Data Shows
- In the year April 2024 to March 2025, 124 workers were killed in work-related incidents in Great Britain — a drop of 14 from the previous year.
- The construction safety statistics show that the sector accounted for 35 of those fatalities — still the highest number across industry sectors.
- The leading cause of fatalities was falls from height (35 deaths across all sectors) and within construction that remains a dominant risk.
- In non-fatal terms, recent data shows an estimated 4,050 non-fatal injuries reported by employers in construction for 2023/24.
- Work-related ill health remains significant: around 78,000 construction workers estimated to be suffering from work-related ill health in 2023/24; musculoskeletal disorders made up over half of these.
Why The Construction Safety Statistics Should Matter to You
- High risk = high responsibility: With 35 deaths in construction alone, you’re operating in a space where the margin for error is small.
- Falls from height are still the main killer: That means any work at height, scaffolding, edge protection or lack of control is still a major red flag.
- Non-fatal injuries & ill health cost time, money and reputation: Even when people don’t die, injuries mean lost days, higher insurance premiums, lost productivity and reputational damage.
- Training & competence matter: With risks this high, it’s not enough to rely on “we’ve always done it this way.” Accredited training, refresher courses and a strong safety culture are essential.
How to Use This for Better Compliance & Performance
- Ensure site managers and supervisors are properly trained: Courses such as the SMSTS (Site Management Safety Training Scheme) and SSSTS (Site Supervisor Safety Training Scheme) help build competence to manage key risks (including falls from height).
- Focus specifically on height-related risk control: Because falls are still the leading cause of death in construction, ensure your risk assessments, edge protection, work at height procedures and training reflect that focus.
- Audit non-fatal injury trends on your site: Look at your own site’s near misses, injuries and illness data. If you see high numbers of musculoskeletal disorders, slips trips falls, it’s an indicator your systems need work.
- Refresh competence regularly: With changing regulations and evolving site practices, training isn’t a “one-and-done”-deal. Make sure refresher courses are built into your schedule.
- Communicate the statistics: Share the raw numbers (the 35 construction deaths, the 78,000 ill health cases) with your team to emphasise “this can happen here unless we act.” It helps shift mindset from “it won’t happen to us” to “we actively mitigate it.”
Why Choose Goldcross Training
At Goldcross Training we specialise in construction-specific safety training. Our course programmes are tailored for site supervisors, managers and professionals working in high risk environments. We help you not just tick the box, but build understanding and competence. By linking our training to the latest HSE data, we help ensure your team is aware of the actual risks—not just generic ones.