22 Aug 2023

Fatal fall from height injuries on the rise

According to the latest HSE data, falls from height continue to be a major cause of work-related fatalities in 2022-23. Similarly, fatalities in construction remain high when compared to the rate across all industries.

In July, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) released its latest annual statistics for work related fatal injuries. It shows that falls from height remain the most common type of fatal accident. It accounted for nearly a third (30 per cent) of fatal injuries among workers in 2022/23, up from 25 per cent in 2021/22. In total, 40 workers died as a result of a fall from height. While work-related fatalities have reduced significantly in the past 40 years, from 495 in 1981 to 135 in the past year, the number per year has remained largely unchanged in recent years. Construction remains the industry with the highest number of fatalities with 45 in 2022/23, up from 29 in 2021/22. This is around four times higher than the average rate across all industries.

To find out more read the full HSE report

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