HSE statistics: your 2022/23 summary

HSE statistics: your 2022/23 summary

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published its annual statistics for 2022/23. Here, we summarise the key findings and what they mean for the builders' merchant sector.

Workplace fatalities

In 2022/23, 135 workers lost their lives in workplace accidents – a slight decrease from the 123 recorded in 2021/22, though still a concerning figure. Over the last five years, an average of 135 workers die each year in workplace accidents.

The most fatal injuries occurred in the following sectors:

• Construction (45 deaths)
• Agriculture, forestry and fishing (21 deaths)
• Manufacturing (14 deaths)

The most common causes of workplace deaths were:

• Falls from height (40 fatalities)
• Struck by moving objects (29 fatalities)
• Struck by moving vehicle (20 fatalities)
• Trapped by something collapsing or overturning (12 fatalities)

Non-fatal injuries

The 2022/23 statistics recorded 60,645 non-fatal injuries to employees (RIDDOR-reported), compared to 61,663 in 2021/22. The most common causes of non-fatal injuries were:

• Slips, trips, and falls on the same level (31%)
• Handling, lifting or carrying (17%)
• Being struck by moving objects (10%)

Work-related ill health

In 2022/23, 1.8 million workers reported suffering from work-related ill health (new or long-standing). Of these, 875,000 were new cases. Stress, depression or anxiety accounted for the largest proportion of new cases of work-related ill health (914,000 cases), followed by musculoskeletal disorders (477,000 cases).

An estimated 35.2 million working days were lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury in 2022/23.

Sector-specific data

For the wholesale and retail trade sector (which includes builders merchants), the HSE statistics show:

• 9 fatal injuries in 2022/23
• 6,000 non-fatal injuries
• An estimated injury rate of 970 per 100,000 workers

What this means for builders' merchants

The annual HSE statistics help to shape the regulator's inspection priorities for the coming year. Based on the 2022/23 statistics, key areas of focus for builders merchants should include:

• Falls from height: Falls from height remain the leading cause of workplace fatalities. For builders merchants, common fall-from-height risks include working on racking systems, loading and unloading from vehicles, and using ladders for maintenance and stock replenishment tasks.
• Workplace transport: With 'struck by moving vehicle' being a leading cause of fatalities, managing the risks associated with vehicles in your yard and delivery operations remains a priority.
• Manual handling: Handling, lifting and carrying is the second most common cause of non-fatal injuries, highlighting the need for robust manual handling controls.
• Work-related stress: With stress, depression and anxiety accounting for the largest proportion of new ill-health cases, supporting employee mental health should be a priority for all businesses.