New research has uncovered sharp rises in workplace fatalities across UK sectors traditionally seen as low-risk, prompting calls for urgent safety reforms.
Data analysed by Astutis, a provider of workplace health and safety training, draws on Health and Safety Executive (HSE) figures comparing fatal injuries from 2014/15 to 2024/25. Overall worker deaths fell from 142 to 124 in the decade, a 13% drop driven by improvements in high-hazard fields. Yet some industries defied this trend, with fatalities climbing significantly in service and consumer-facing roles.
The largest increase occurred in public administration, defence, health and education, where deaths rose by 67%. Fatalities in this sector included slips, falls and equipment mishaps in hospitals, schools and government offices.
Sectors showing the biggest increases
Other industries also reported concerning rises:
- Arts, entertainment and recreation; other service activities: up 25%. Fatalities linked to stage rigging failures, crowd crushes and equipment malfunctions.
- Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; accommodation and food service activities: up 20%. Deaths tied to slips, vehicle collisions in loading areas and assaults during late shifts.
- Information and communication; financial and insurance activities; real estate activities; professional, scientific and technical activities; administrative and support service activities: up 18%.
Brenig Moore, technical director at Astutis, said the findings highlight a shift in workplace risk. “These figures are a stark reminder that hazards are no longer confined to the traditional “high-risk” industries. Fatality rates in health, education, and professional services in particular should be a wake-up call. Compliance is not enough; organisations must adopt stronger safety cultures that embed risk awareness, leadership accountability, and continuous training at every level.”
Changing causes of fatalities
HSE’s 2024/25 data shows falls from height (35 cases) and being struck by objects (18 cases) remain leading causes overall, though deaths are increasingly seen in office-based and service environments. Contact with electricity rose 75% over the decade, often during maintenance in education and administration buildings.
Even in consumer-facing sectors, risks are escalating. Wholesale, retail and hospitality reported a 20% increase in deaths, often linked to long hours, physical strain and high-pressure environments. Arts, entertainment and recreation saw a 25% rise, with incidents involving stage rigging failures and equipment malfunctions.
Progress in hazardous industries
Some of the UK’s traditionally most dangerous sectors show signs of improvement. Agriculture, forestry and fishing recorded 23 fatalities in 2024/25, a 28% reduction since 2014/15, attributed to better training and machinery guards. Manufacturing cut fatalities by 39% over the same period, from 18 to 11, aided by automation and modern safety management.
Construction, however, remains unchanged, with 35 deaths in both 2014/15 and 2024/25. Scaffolding collapses and trench failures continue to claim lives despite regulatory pressure.
Regional variations and recent spikes
More recent trends show fatalities in wholesale and retail rising 200% since 2019/20, linked to post-pandemic supply chain pressures, while professional services saw a 62% increase, associated with remote work hazards such as ergonomic strains escalating to severe incidents.
Regional variations are also stark. Scotland recorded a 136% rise in fatalities since 2019/20, with 26 deaths last year, while Yorkshire and the Humber saw a 60% reduction over the decade. Rates per million workers now stand at 1.42 in England, 4.69 in Scotland and 3.14 in Wales.
Moore warned: “Workplace risks are evolving; stress, fatigue, lone working and new technologies are shaping today’s challenges, and unless addressed, the rise in fatalities will continue. Every sector, whether traditionally high-risk or not, must recognise that proactive training and modern approaches to safety are critical for protecting workers.”
With 92 public deaths also tied to work activities last year, Astutis has urged mandatory risk audits in rising-risk sectors and called for safety to be embedded in corporate culture from boardrooms to shop floors.
