BLOG
Workplace fatality figures in Great Britain April 2021 to March 2022
- #accident
- #COVID-19
- #UK
The HSE published annual workplace fatality figures in July for Great Britain covering the period from April 2021 to March 2022. With 123 fatalities in work-related accidents in Great Britain in this period safety must remain a priority in all workplaces.
The figure of 123 fatalities are resulting from a work-related accident in 2021/22 that were reportable under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) to any of the main enforcing authorities for health and safety at work. The figures do not include deaths arising from occupational diseases or diseases arising from certain occupational exposures (including Covid-19).
The industries with the highest fatal injuries were construction (30), agriculture, forestry, and fishing (22), and manufacturing (22). Agriculture, forestry and fishing has the highest rate of fatal injury per 100,000 workers.
Breakdown of fatal injuries by main industry (2021/22), total 123
| Construction | 30 |
| Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 22 |
| Manufacturing | 22 |
| Transportation and storage | 16 |
| Administrative and support services | 12 |
| Wholesale, retail, motor repair, accommodation and food | 11 |
| Waste and recycling | 1 |
| Other industries | 9 |
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).
Number of fatal injuries to workers by accident kind
| Falls from a height | 29 |
| Struck by moving vehicle | 23 |
| Struck by moving, including flying/falling object | 18 |
| Contact with moving machinery | 15 |
| Trapped by something collapsing/overturning | 14 |
| All other accident kinds | 24 |
Age breakdown of fatalities is as follows:
| Aged 16 to 59 years | 93 |
| Aged 60 plus years | 29 |
| Unknown age | 1 |
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. The 123 worker deaths in 2021/22 is lower than the previous year, though it is in line with pre-pandemic figures.
The full report from the HSE available here shows a comparison with data from the previous five years.
The HSE is committed to making workplaces safer and holding employers to account for their actions, as part of its mission to protect people and places.
Sources:
Workplace fatal injuries in Great Britain, 2022 – HSE published 6 July 2022
The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (SI 2013 No. 1471) – gov.uk