Causes of Fatal Accidents and Ill Health

The recent workplace fatality statistics published by the HSE also break those statistics down by the type of accident.

The most common types of fatal accident during 2022/23 were:

• falls from a height – 40
• struck by moving objects – 29
• struck by moving vehicles – 20
• trapped by something collapsing / overturning – 12
• contact with moving machinery – 9

Broadly speaking these figures are in line with the average for the 5 year period from 2018/19 to 2022/23. Combined falls from height, struck by moving objects and struck by moving vehicles accounted for over half of all fatal accidents.

The HSE also published the latest figures for fatalities caused by Mesothelioma which is a cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. A total of 2,570 individuals died as a result of Mesothelioma in 2021. While this is a significant number this shows a fall of 302 from the previous year and is substantially lower than the average of 2,520 deaths per year over the period 2012-2019

Mesothelioma and other asbestos based diseases take time to develop and  the majority of deaths are considered likely to be the result of exposure prior to the banning of asbestos in 1999.

Investigating work-related accidents and incidents is an essential part of managing health and safety. By investigating accidents you can gain an understanding of how and why things went wrong, and the ways people can be exposed to substances or conditions that may affect their health. This can also give an insight into what really happens at work for example by identifying short cuts people take or controls that are ignored. By Identifying deficiencies in your risk control management you can learn lessons and take action to improve your risk management.

If you have any questions or would like support with managing issues at your workplace, please speak to your usual contact or get in touch using the form below.