The Headline Stats Are Out

The Health and Safety Executive delivered its annual statistics for the 2024/25 reporting year yesterday morning (20th November 2025). And as always, we’ve dived straight in so you don’t have to wade through the pack until you are ready.

Here’s SHE does safety’s simple take on the key numbers, what’s improved, what’s stuck, and – most importantly – what it means for real workplaces.

Psst! – When you are ready:https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/assets/docs/hssh2425.pdf

The Big Picture

1.9 million workers suffered from work-related ill health (new or long-standing) in 2024/25 – statistically flat compared with the last few years and still well above pre-pandemic levels.

Stress, depression and anxiety remain the single biggest cause: 964,000 cases, with an average of 21.3 days lost per case.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and other physical conditions make up the rest of the ill-health burden.

40.1 million working days lost in total due to ill health and injury – that’s the equivalent of every worker in the country taking more than a day off because of work-related issues.

124 fatal injuries to workers (provisional figure, April 2024–March 2025). Tragically similar to recent years and a stark reminder that Britain’s long-term downward trend in fatalities has plateaued.

680,000 self-reported non-fatal injuries has remained broadly the same.

The (Small) Positives

Ill-health figures are no longer climbing – they’ve levelled off after the post-pandemic spike.

Britain still has one of the lowest rates of fatal injury in Europe. But lets be clear, 124 is still far too high.

The Reality Check

These aren’t just numbers – they’re people. Behind the 1.9 million are colleagues struggling to get through the day, families affected, and businesses losing talent and productivity.

The fact that half of all ill-health cases are stress, depression or anxiety should be a wake-up call for every manager and business owner reading this.

What Stands Out

Mental health is now the dominant issue – and it’s preventable with proper risk assessments, workload management, and genuine support.

Construction, agriculture, and waste/recycling still top the fatal injury league tables – no surprises, but no room for complacency either, me must do more collectively to support these industries.

Days lost to ill health dwarf those lost to physical injury by roughly 20:1.

If your wellbeing strategy is still an afterthought or seen as a nice to have, you really need to bring it back to the table. Further big reductions will need fresh thinking – better training, planning, fatigue management, and cultural change (we have to be honest with ourselves).

What Should You Do Today?

Pull last year’s stress risk assessment out – is it still fit for purpose? Has your business changed, what are the roles like?

Check your incident data – are you seeing the same patterns as the national picture?

Talk to your teams – the Labour Force Survey shows huge under-reporting; the real numbers are almost certainly higher. Talking and listening is guaranteed to give you usable feedback. Remember, if listening hasn’t been at the forefront, work will need to be done to build trust. Be patient and it will come.

Ensure you understand your key risks. What has the potential to cause signifcant harm? Have you got appropriate measures in place? If not, or if you are unsure is it time to gain support?

HSE’s message (which we back) is clear: Britain is one of the safer places to work, but there is no room for complacency. Wins will come from tackling the “invisible” risks – stress, MSDs, and mental health issues. Businesses must remain aware of their key hazards and ensure measures are taken to protect.

If you’d like us to complete a health & safety review, refresh your stress/MSD risk assessments, business risk assessments, deliver some practical guidance, or upskill and empower your teams please reach out.

As ever, prevention is cheaper (and kinder) than cure.

Stay safe – and look after each other, lets go in to 2026 stronger together.

Written by Laura Tull CertIOSH, Director, SHE does safety Ltd delivered in collaboration with MJ Training @ https://www.mjtrainme.co.uk/