According to research by Direct Line business insurance, almost all tradespeople (95%) have experienced workplace injuries and half of tradespeople acknowledge that health and safety requirements and procedures are not consistently followed on site.
Analysis of new Health and Safety Executive data reveals that 47,000 people working in construction trades suffered a non-fatal injury at work in the three-year period 2021/22–2023/24. There was also nearly one fatality a week (51 fatal injuries) in the construction industry in 2023/24.
The impact of workplace injuries is far-reaching, with more than a quarter (26%) of injured tradespeople surveyed requiring six months or longer off work to recover. Worryingly, 96% of tradespeople report not knowing anyone in their field who has avoided workplace injuries, highlighting the widespread nature of the issue.
According to the Health and Safety Executive data, approximately 425,000 working days were lost in 2021/22-2023/24 in the construction sector due to workplace injury, severely disrupting livelihoods and placing significant strain on businesses. Health and safety awareness is a critical issue, with nearly one in five (18%) tradespeople admitting they are not fully informed about relevant rules and regulations.
Just a third (37%) of tradespeople would speak to a trainee or apprentice on-site if they weren’t following health and safety procedures and less than half (41%) of tradespeople would intervene if a health and safety breach put their own safety at risk. Concerningly, less than two fifths (37%) of those accountable for safety on site would actually address a colleague for not following health and safety procedures.
Mark Summerville, Product Manager at Direct Line business insurance comments, “Health and safety awareness in some businesses remains inadequate, resulting in preventable workplace injuries and in some rare cases, fatalities. Neglecting to implement and adhere to health and safety regulation can lead to severe physical harm, avoidable business interruption and potentially significant legal repercussions.
“It is essential for businesses and their employees to ensure that they have the correct health and safety training in place so that they stay informed about current regulations. It is also important to foster a culture where safe working practices are deeply embedded so that people get home safely to their families and loved ones.”
