Accidents on Construction Sites: UK Statistics and How to Prevent Them

Construction continues to be one of the UK's higher-risk industries, with falls from height remaining a major cause of serious and fatal workplace accidents. The Health and Safety Executive recorded 124 worker fatalities across UK industries in 2024/25, with construction again accounting for a significant share.

Many incidents can be reduced through better planning before work begins. Employers need to assess the task, identify the hazards, choose suitable access equipment and make sure those carrying out the work are competent to use it. Where working at height cannot be avoided, collective protection such as properly assembled scaffold towers and guardrails should normally take priority over methods that rely only on individual behaviour.

Equipment selection also matters. Towers must be appropriate for the required height, ground conditions and environment, and should be inspected before use and after any event that could affect their stability. Staff should follow the manufacturer's assembly instructions and never improvise with missing components or makeshift height extensions.

A strong safety culture combines suitable equipment with training, supervision and straightforward reporting of hazards before they lead to an accident.

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