Construction workers face elevated health and injury risks

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has released its annual statistics for work-related ill health and injuries for 2023/24, highlighting the elevated risks faced by workers in the construction industry.

The construction sector continues to show higher-than-average rates for both work-related ill health and non-fatal injuries. Workers in construction reported:

• 3,772 cases of work-related ill health per 100,000 workers, well above the average across all industries (4,141 per 100,000).
• 2,388 non-fatal workplace injuries per 100,000 workers, significantly exceeding the all-industry average of 1,668 per 100,000.

The high rates reflect the physically demanding and high-risk nature of construction work, with musculoskeletal disorders and accidents being persistent issues.

Broader impact on construction

Work-related ill health and injuries in the construction industry contribute to significant productivity losses. The sector is a major part of the UK economy, and safety challenges affect not only workers' wellbeing but also project timelines and costs.

Across all industries, an estimated 1.7 million workers suffered from work-related ill health in 2023/24. Stress, depression, and anxiety accounted for 776,000 cases, while 543,000 cases were musculoskeletal disorders. For injuries, 604,000 non-fatal injuries were self-reported, and 138 fatal accidents occurred.

The economic burden of workplace health and safety issues is significant, costing an estimated £21.6 billion in 2022/23. A total of 33.7 million working days were lost to work-related ill health and injuries during the past year.

HSE chief executive Sarah Albon acknowledged the progress in workplace safety over the past five decades but emphasised the need for ongoing improvement: “Today, Great Britain is one of the safest places in the world to work, but these statistics serve as a reminder that there is still room for further improvement,” she said.