Figures published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), show 123 workers were killed in work-related accidents in Great Britain in the last year (2021/22), with 30 people killed in the construction sector. This is down from 40 in 2020/21, however, the five-year average for fatal injuries in the sector is 36.
The annual data release covers the period from April 2021 to March 2022, during which time most pandemic restrictions were lifted and the economy began returning to normal.
The most common kinds of fatal accidents to workers in 2021/22 continue to be falls from a height, being struck by moving vehicle, and being struck by a moving, including flying/falling, object. These accounted for over half (109) of all fatal accidents to workers in 2021/22.
While the number of construction-related deaths fell to 30, down on last year’s figure of 36, agriculture, forestry, and fishing (22), and manufacturing (22); though agriculture, forestry and fishing has the highest rate of fatal injury per 100,000 workers.
The three most common causes of fatal injuries continue to be falling from height (29), being struck by a moving vehicle (23), and being struck by a moving object (18).
The 123 worker deaths in 2021/22 is lower than the previous year, though it is in line with pre-pandemic figures. There has been a long-term downward trend in the rate of fatal injuries to workers, though in the years prior to the coronavirus pandemic the rate was broadly flat.
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