The latest workplace fatality figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show that 124 workers died in work-related incidents between April 2024 and March 2025. This was 14 less than the year before. But is that really such a positive when 124 people still lost their lives? And hundreds of friends and family members lost a loved one?
The sobering truth is that causes of workplace fatalities and serious injuries are very similar across different industries. Whether in logistics, warehousing, road transport, or ports, the risks are real, and tragically, claiming lives. Yet many of those risks are preventable. Reducing accident rates and saving lives is entirely achievable.
Read on to see the latest injury and fatality rates. And learn proven strategies to address these numbers and keep your people safe.
The Latest Figures Show A Shared Safety Challenge
According to the HSE’s 2024/25 report, falls from height (35 deaths) remained the leading cause of fatal injury. Construction and agriculture were the most affected industries, but the underlying risks – like falls, vehicle strikes, and poor safety culture – are universal.
The Transportation and Storage industry saw 15 fatalities according to the latest figures. Across all industries, 14 deaths occurred as a result of being struck by a vehicle. A further 13 fatalities were a result of contact with moving machinery. This highlights the importance of improving safety around workplace transport and handling equipment.
Interestingly, the Port Industry Incident Statistics for 2024 from Ports Skills and Safety showed that no fatalities were reported by contributing members. However, incidents involving loading, slips, trips, falls, manual handling injuries and being struck by moving objects all resulted in injuries to workers.
The patterns of what is harming people resonate across different types of workplaces. The environments may vary, but the risks, and the missed opportunities to prevent them, are consistent.
The Human Cost of Workplace Incidents
Behind every statistic is a person. A colleague, a friend, a family member. The HSE statistics are a reminder that each fatality is a tragedy.
And despite legislation, awareness campaigns, and improved reporting, there are still gaps in safety practices. Such as:
- Inconsistent training standards
- Lack of cultural buy-in to safety
- Poor monitoring of competence and compliance
These lapses in safety are not unique to any one industry. They are part of a wider issue around safety. And they are solvable.
Workplace incidents and tragic outcomes can be prevented by taking a new approach. By moving from acceptance to action, employers have the power to transform operational safety. And keep people coming home safely every day.
Ways to Break the Cycle to Keep People Safe
Every accident avoided is a life unchanged. At RTITB, we believe safety isn’t just compliance, it’s a commitment to people. That’s why we created the Safety Chain: a proven framework to help companies build a confident, compliant, and competent workforce, and ultimately, save lives.
- Content – Content is where safety starts. When training is dull, generic, or outdated, it doesn’t stick and neither do safe habits. That’s why RTITB develops engaging, high-impact materials that bring real-world risks to life. Every course is designed not just to inform, but to inspire a shift in mindset.
- Confidence – Confidence isn’t just knowing what to do, it’s having the courage to speak up. Through the right training, RTITB helps create a workforce where safety becomes instinctive, and where operators are empowered to stop unsafe practices before someone gets hurt. This is how a culture of care takes root.
- Compliance – Legislation and regulation do not exist solely as a tick box exercise. Of course, proving that you have done what is required around training is helpful in the event if an incident or when a fatality occurs. It helps companies avoid legal action and fines. But it also helps keep standards consistent, and by design, helps prevent people from being put at risk within your operations. To simplify compliance, RTITB offers The Syndesi System. This custom solution digitises training record management. The result is a single online system that monitors and manages operator competence in real time.
- Consistency – Standardising training is one way to help standardise safety practices across different teams and sites. When every trainer delivers the same high standard, safety isn’t left to chance. Consistency turns best practice into common practice, across sites, teams, and shifts. That’s when it translates into genuine, long-lasting cultural change.
But training may not be the only issue to address. An RTITB HealthCheck consultation can help identify the different potential risks and areas for improvement and provide them in a plain English, impartial report. So you can make meaningful changes.
- Measurable Results – Every near-miss avoided. Every operation that runs smoother. Every person who goes home safe – that’s the measure of success. The Safety Chain delivers more than just training. It drives performance, improves ESG outcomes, and safeguards your people and your operation.
The different elements of the Safety Chain provide the vital link between awareness and action. Helping you enhance operational safety, whether you’re managing a warehouse or a port terminal.
Review Your Safety Approach Now
Don’t wait for your company to be part of next year’s incident and fatality statistics.
Talk to the knowledgeable RTITB team about practical tools to help you take responsibility and take action today. Let’s save lives together.
Author: Laura Nelson, Managing Director, RTITB
Laura Nelson, has worked with RTITB, the leading workplace transport training accreditation body, for more than 20 years. She has been Managing Director for 8 years.
Laura champions the development of innovative training programs, training quality standards, and software. She aims to empower the transport, warehousing, and logistics industries to achieve safety excellence.
Her approach to leadership reflects her belief in the importance of the RTITB mission to save lives.
Laura is a qualified Transport Manager and ISO9001 Lead Auditor. She has also completed Cranfield University’s Business Growth Program.