Story Highlight
- HSE estimates workplace injuries cost £6.5 billion in 2023/24
- Work-related ill health adds £16.4 billion to total costs
- Ill health accounts for 72 percent of workplace-related costs
- Over one million workers suffer workplace injuries annually
- Work-related stress caused 22.1 million lost working days
Full Story
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has released estimates indicating that the financial burden of workplace injuries for the period 2023/24 is projected to be £6.5 billion, while new cases of work-related ill health are expected to add £16.4 billion. This data reveals that ill health constitutes approximately 72% of the total cost, contrasting with 28% attributed to workplace injuries.
John McGuire, Managing Director of health and safety software provider Velappity, remarked on the implications of these figures, stating, “The cost of a workplace accident rarely stops with the incident itself.” He highlighted factors such as lost working time, operational disruption, and management time necessary for investigating incidents and implementing changes. McGuire noted that smaller businesses could suffer significant impacts from the loss of even a single experienced staff member.
Statistics from the HSE further illustrate the prevalence of workplace injuries and ill health, with an average of 623,000 workers reportedly injured in workplace accidents annually from 2022/23 to 2024/25. Additionally, 679,000 workers experienced new cases of ill health associated with their work. Notably, HSE estimates place the average cost of a workplace injury around £10,000, while new work-related ill health cases average approximately £24,200.
The impact of such health issues is reflected in workplace absenteeism data, with estimates indicating a total of 40.1 million working days lost in 2024/25 due to work-related ill health and non-fatal injuries. Of these, 35.7 million days lost were due to ill health, while 4.4 million were linked to workplace injuries.
Mental health concerns are particularly notable, with around 1.9 million workers reported to be suffering from work-related illnesses in 2024/25. This group includes 964,000 individuals citing work-related stress, depression, or anxiety, and 511,000 affected by musculoskeletal disorders. Stress-related issues alone accounted for an estimated 22.1 million lost working days.
McGuire emphasised the importance of recognising workplace health issues beyond physical hazards. “Health and safety is often associated with things like machinery, working at height or manual handling, and those risks obviously remain important,” he stated, adding that work-related ill health now poses the greatest economic impact.
In examining the causes of workplace injuries, the HSE identified that slips, trips, and falls on the same level made up 30% of reported non-fatal injuries in 2024/25. Other significant causes included handling, lifting, or carrying (17%), being struck by moving objects (10%), acts of violence (10%), and falls from height (8%).
McGuire pointed out that the financial ramifications of workplace accidents extend beyond mere sick pay, noting that businesses might incur costs for overtime, temporary staff cover, damaged equipment replacement, and time spent investigating and reviewing procedures. He stressed the need for businesses to manage information more effectively to capture patterns indicating potential hazards.
Despite long-term improvements in workplace safety, the financial implications of workplace accidents and ill health remain a significant concern. Employers are estimated to bear around £4.3 billion of the annual cost, while the government accounts for about £5.2 billion. However, individuals bear the largest share at approximately £13.4 billion. McGuire concluded, “Businesses cannot remove every possible workplace risk, but they can make sure they learn from the information available to them.”
Source: read the original report.
What this means for your site
To mitigate the extensive costs associated with workplace injuries and ill health, businesses must adopt proactive measures to address both physical and mental health risks. Key legislation that applies includes the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, which mandates employers to ensure the health and safety of their employees, and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, which requires employers to conduct risk assessments to identify potential hazards. Furthermore, the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR 2013) stipulate that incidents must be documented, aiding in the identification of patterns and prevention of future occurrences.
One step sites can take is to implement a robust incident reporting and analysis system that allows patterns to be easily identified. By centralising incident data, businesses can ensure that recurring issues are addressed before they lead to serious injuries or ill health. Additionally, regular training on manual handling and mental health awareness can equip employees to manage risks effectively, fostering a safer workplace culture. Addressing both visible and hidden health hazards will ultimately help reduce the financial and human costs linked to workplace accidents.
