Industries with the highest rates of workplace injuries

  Posted by: electime      13th August 2025

The construction industry reports 47,000 workplace injuries each year – equivalent to 2,390 injuries per 100,000 workers (one in 42).

The sector continues to face challenges linked to the physical nature of the job, such as working at height. Slips and trips remain the most common incidents, followed by falls, with 807 reported in the past year.¹

While these figures reflect the physical demands of construction, they also highlight the industry’s continued efforts to improve safety standards and reduce risks, especially in tasks involving elevated or partially completed surfaces.

Further study insights:

• The construction sector sees an average of 28,000 workplace-related illnesses per year.

• There are 1.65 fatalities per 100,000 workers each year in the construction sector.

• The industry also sees the fourth-highest rate of crime against physical premises compared to other sectors, with one-quarter (25 per cent) affected.

Joe Phelan, money.co.uk business savings expert, offers tips on building a safety net to help mitigate the impact of workplace injuries:

“With the daily pressures of running a business, it’s easy to push savings down the priority list. However, this data is a stark reminder that a healthy contingency fund isn’t a ‘nice-to-have’ – it’s crucial to protecting your people and your operations.

“By building a safety net, you’ll be better placed to support colleagues, while keeping the business running smoothly. Building up a contingency fund doesn’t have to be complicated. Even small, regular contributions to a savings account can help businesses stay resilient through staff absences, workplace incidents, or crime-related disruptions.

“These accounts allow you to earn interest on your savings and, crucially, the money is on hand the moment you need it. This can help you protect your employees and your business if your team members get injured or fall ill, or if you’re a victim of a crime.”

Is this of interest to you and your readers? You can view the full study, including further data-driven insights, here.