Health and Safety at Work Statistics for 2024

The HSE published the latest statistics on health and safety at work in Great Britain for 2024. These statistics help to identify the areas and sectors that should be focused on and improved in the year ahead.

Key statistics for 2024 and how they compare to 2023

• 1.7 million working people suffering from a work-related illness (new or long-standing). This is 100,000 people fewer than last year.
  • 776,000 workers suffering from work-related stress, depression or anxiety. This is 99,000 fewer workers compared to last year.
  • 543,000 workers suffering from work-related musculoskeletal disorder. This is 70,000 more than last year.
• 2,257 mesothelioma deaths due to past asbestos exposures (2022), 11 less than 2021.
• 138 workers killed in work-related accidents, 3 more than last year.
• 604,000 working people sustained an injury at work according to the Labour Force Survey. This is 43,000 more than last year.
• 61,663 injuries to employees were reported under RIDDOR, 1018 more than last year.
• 33.7 million working days lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury. This is 1.5 million fewer days compared to last year.
• £21.6 billion is the estimated cost of injuries and ill health from current working conditions (2022/23). This has increased by £900,000 from the 2021/22

Work-related ill health  

New and long-standing cases of work-related ill health

• 46% – Stress, depression or anxiety (776,000)
• 32% – Musculoskeletal disorders (543,000)
• 21% – Other type of illness (354,000)

Whilst it has dropped by 3% compared to last year, stress, depression or anxiety continues to be the leading cause of work-related ill health. Musculoskeletal disorders have increased by 5%.  

Work-related stress, depression or anxiety

Not only has the total number of workers suffering from work-related stress, depression or anxiety (new or long-standing) dropped from 875,000 to 776,000 (99,000 fewer people), but the number of new workers suffering from work-related stress, depression or anxiety has also dropped from 338,000 to 300,000 (11.2%).

16.4 million working days were lost due to work-related stress, depression or anxiety in 2023/24. Positively, this was 700,000 fewer days compared to 2022/2023.

The three sectors that suffered from higher-than-average rates of work-related stress, depression or anxiety were:

1. Public admin/defence
2. Human health/social work
3. Education

This is similar to the previous year, with only public admin/defence overtaking human health/social work in the ranking.

Workplace injury

Sadly 138 workers were killed in work-related accidents in 2023/2024, a 0.9% increase from the previous year.

Both workers sustaining a workplace non-fatal injury and employee work-related non-fatal injuries reported by employees under RIDDOR were similar figures to last year. However, 400,000 more working days (4.1 million in total) were lost due to non-fatal workplace injuries. 79% of those injuries had up to 7 days absence and 21% of them had over 7 days absence – only 1 percentage change from last year.

The most common non-fatal accidents were:

1. Slips, trips or falls (on the same level) (31%)
2. Handling, lifting or carrying (17%)
3. Struck by moving object (10%)
4. Acts of violence (9%)
5. Falls from a height (8%)

These statistics are very similar to last year, with only a 1% change in 3 accident figures.

Industry figures

Work-related ill health

The industries with the highest work-related ill health were:

• Public admin/defence
• Human health/social work
• Education

Workplace non-fatal injury

The industries with the highest workplace non-fatal injuries were:

• Accommodation/food service activities
• Construction
• Transportation/storage
• Wholesale/Retail trade (inc. repair of motor vehicles)

All of these industries, apart from transportation/storage featured on the highest workplace non-fatal injuries list last year.

To find out more information or support with your Health and Safety, get in contact with our team of experts.

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