Can we learn anything from the HSE annual safety report?
Every year the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) publish their annual report which details HSE's progress in achieving its objectives, highlights key risks, and provides insights into its overall performance in promoting and ensuring health, safety, and welfare in workplaces.
I remember sharing accident and ill health statistics with many senior leaders and managers over the years in my health and safety reporting. Some were very interested wanting to know more about trends or to benchmark themselves against competitors or other parts of the organisation while others showed little interest.
I believe that statistics have their place in health & safety management particularly for tracking performance over a period of time, thus allowing for early interventions where needed. Modern day software gives organisations the ability to show real time data in all sorts of areas including accident and ill health statistics, meaning that leaders and managers no longer have to wait for periodic safety reporting to act.
Modest Improvements in Overall Health Statistics
The latest figures show that 1.7 million workers reported suffering from work-related ill health during 2023/24, representing a slight decrease from the 1.8 million recorded in the previous year. This marginal improvement suggests that efforts to address workplace health issues may be beginning to take effect, though the numbers remain substantially higher than pre-pandemic levels from 2018/19.
The economic burden of workplace health and safety issues also showed signs of easing, with the estimated annual cost of workplace injuries and new cases of work-related ill health falling to £21.6 billion in 2023/24 a reduction of £1.6 billion compared to the previous year. Despite this improvement, the figure represents a significant drain on Britain's economic performance, equivalent to hundreds of pounds for every working person in the country.
Mental Health Remains the Dominant Concern
Mental health continues to dominate workplace health statistics, with stress, depression, and anxiety accounting for approximately half of all reported work-related ill health cases. The 776,000 cases recorded in 2023/24 represent a notable decrease from the peak of 910,000 cases in 2022/23, suggesting that targeted interventions may be having some impact.
However, these figures remain significantly elevated compared to pre-pandemic baselines, highlighting the lasting impact of recent global events on workplace mental health. The persistence of these elevated levels indicates that mental health support in the workplace requires sustained attention and resources.
The human cost of workplace health issues is reflected in the staggering 33.7 million working days lost in 2023/24 due to self-reported work-related ill health or injury. This figure represents not just economic loss but also personal suffering for hundreds of thousands of workers and their families.
Workplace Injuries and Fatal Accidents
While progress on work-related ill health shows mixed results, workplace safety in terms of injuries and fatalities continues to present challenges. The statistics reveal that 138 workers lost their lives in work-related accidents during 2023/24, each representing a personal tragedy that reverberates through families and communities.
Additionally, 604,000 workers sustained injuries leading them to be off work for seven days or more. The most common causes of these injuries were:
- Slips, trips and falls – 31%
- Handling Lifting or carrying – 17%
- Struck by a moving object – 10%
- Act of violence – 9%
- Falls from height – 8%
These injuries underscore that despite decades of safety improvements, significant risks remain present in many workplaces across the UK.
Five Decades of Safety Progress
The release of these statistics coincides with a significant milestone as 2024 marks 50 years since the legislation establishing the HSE was passed. This anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on the remarkable progress achieved over five decades of dedicated safety regulation.
HSE Chief Executive Sarah Albon highlighted this achievement, noting that employee fatal injuries in the workplace have decreased by approximately 85% since the organization's inception. This dramatic improvement has helped establish Great Britain as one of the safest places in the world to work, an achievement that represents countless lives saved and injuries prevented. However, she emphasized that the current statistics serve as a reminder that room for improvement remains.
Looking Forward: Continued Commitment to Safety
The HSE's commitment to further progress is evident in their ongoing initiatives, including the Working Minds campaign focused on work-related mental health, and their comprehensive 10-year strategy running from 2022 to 2032. These programs represent recognition that workplace safety and health challenges continue to evolve, requiring adaptive and sustained responses.
The mixed picture presented by the 2023/24 statistics showing some improvements in overall health figures and economic costs, but persistent challenges in mental health and workplace injuries suggests that Britain's workplace safety journey is far from complete. While the 50-year perspective demonstrates remarkable progress, the current figures indicate that protecting worker health and safety remains an active, ongoing challenge requiring continued vigilance and innovation.
As Britain's workplaces continue to evolve, particularly in the post-pandemic era, the HSE's statistics provide crucial insight into where progress is being made and where additional focus is needed. The slight improvements in overall figures offer hope, but the persistent mental health challenges and continued workplace injuries serve as a sobering reminder that the goal of truly safe and healthy workplaces for all remains a work in progress.
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