Following updated workplace fatality figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), health, safety and environmental training experts Astutis are calling for long-term change
The Industry Safety Steering Group (ISSG) recently reported on PBC Today that the industry is not keeping up with the government in terms of safety. It stated that much of the workforce is not engaging with the Building Safety Act or treating it as optional, and, therefore, the organisation is calling for stronger crackdowns by the government to help ensure compliance.
This comes at the same time as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) released its latest annual report on work-related fatalities. On 1 July 2026, the HSE reported that Great Britain remains one of the safest places to work in the world based on workplace fatal injury rates.
But despite this strong overall record, deaths involving moving vehicles in the workplace have surged by 71% in the past year. While such incidents remain relatively rare, the sharp rise has intensified calls for employers to strengthen workplace safety measures.
As a Workplace Health and Safety Expert and Technical Director at Astutis, I believe any workplace fatality is one too many. So, seeing ten more people lose their lives after being struck by moving vehicles compared with last year is incredibly disappointing. Many of these could’ve been prevented with additional training, managers taking fatigue more seriously, and not treating risk assessments as simply admin.
These are incidents that employers have spent years working to prevent, which makes this increase particularly concerning. While annual figures can fluctuate, they are a reminder that workplace safety can never become routine or be taken for granted.
Increases aren’t limited to vehicles, though. A total of 126 workers lost their lives in work-related incidents during 2025/26. Nearly one in five fatalities (24) resulted from workers being struck by moving vehicles, while falls from height remained the leading cause of workplace deaths, claiming 31 lives.
Fatalities involving moving objects rose by 17%, while deaths caused by workers being trapped by collapsing or overturning objects increased by 13%. Deaths involving contact with moving machinery also climbed by 11%.
The time for change is now
Organisations should use these findings as an opportunity to review traffic management, vehicle movements, pedestrian segregation, and training to ensure existing controls remain effective.
Every statistic represents a person who never returned home to their family, and that’s why continuous improvement in health and safety is so important.
Health and safety have long been a fundamental part of working in construction, with good practices introduced from the earliest stages of apprenticeship training and reinforced throughout a worker’s career.
However, maintaining high standards requires ongoing commitment from employees, employers, and the state, as, over time, it is easy for standards to slip and complacency to creep in.
Strong leadership is central to building a positive safety culture. Policies and procedures are established by legislators, but their effectiveness depends on visible commitment from employers and consistent implementation across the workforce. The latest HSE figures underline the importance of keeping health and safety firmly on the agenda with ongoing learning and development.
A step in the right direction
Creating and maintaining a safe working environment remains a shared responsibility. By working together to improve understanding and awareness, we can reduce the number and severity of incidents. This means employers and employees alike play an important role in reducing risks and preventing workplace incidents.
Abiding by legislation is a legal duty of employers. However, considering the HSE’s latest annual release, particular caution should be paid to vehicular hazards. Watch out for:
- The risk of falling, crushing or being struck by construction vehicles like lifts and cranes, as well as their general whereabouts
- The sheer size of construction vehicles compared to UK roads, and how poor weather may impact driver visibility
- Regular maintenance and repair to avoid malfunctions or breakdowns
- Driver skill and experience
Refresher programmes should remain a priority, ensuring workers at every level have the knowledge and confidence to identify and manage risks. Continuous learning can play a significant role in preventing incidents before they occur.
Eliminating the ‘tell-tale’ label
Employers should also encourage an open reporting culture, giving workers the confidence to raise concerns (anonymously or directly) about unsafe practices, equipment, or working conditions. This should be supported by routine risk assessments, workplace inspections, and prompt action where improvements are needed.
Together, we can foster a more productive work environment without putting workers in unnecessary danger and start to turn the tide on rising fatality statistics.
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