Industrial Accidents: Death
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what percentage of fatalities that occurred in the workplace were investigated by the Health and Safety Executive in the (a) 2022, (b) 2023 and (c) 2024 reporting year.
Answered by Sir Stephen Timms
The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) puts duties on employers and other people in charge of work premises to report and keep records of all work-related fatalities, work related injuries, diagnosed cases of re-portable occupational diseases, and certain 'dangerous occurrences' (incidents with the potential to cause harm).
When reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) all fatalities undergo an initial triage investigation to determine whether the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 applies or not. An assessment is made to determine whether a full investigation is appropriate. Consideration is given to whether all reasonably practical precautions were taken, evidence is still available, the death was ‘work-related’ or it resulted from natural causes. Where appropriate, this will result in a full investigation by an Inspector.
The table below only shows the number of RIDDOR reportable fatal injuries in HSE enforced premises and investigated by HSE.
Year | No. RIDDOR reportable fatalities enforced by HSE |
2022/23 | 156 |
2023/24 | 166 (r) |
2024/25 | 154 (p) |
Note:
Figures for 2024/25 are provisional and are marked as 'p' in the tables. They will be finalised in July 2026 following any necessary adjustments. Figures for 2023/24 have been revised (finalised) and are marked as 'r' in the tables.
Data on all fatalities in the workplace including for example, deaths from natural causes, is not available.
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