Workplace stress has emerged as the leading safety concern for UK employees, with new research suggesting that safety challenges are evolving as mental health now playing a central role alongside traditional risks.
The study, from safety and sustainability firm EcoOnline, found that 61% of employees identify stress as the most significant workplace safety issue. This comes as productivity remains under pressure, with output per hour worked down 0.5% year on year.
The data also shows a clear link between safety and performance. Nine in ten employees, 90%, say a safer workplace would make them more productive, while 79% say they would consider leaving a role due to unsafe working conditions. These findings point to the growing importance of workplace safety in supporting both employee wellbeing and organisational outcomes.
Workplace Risks Beyond Traditional Safety Hazards
Among UK lone workers, 30% reported experiencing an accident while working alone in 2025. At the same time, confidence in employer responsibility for safety declined from 68% to 62% year on year.
Across the wider workforce, 39% say they or a family member have experienced a workplace accident or illness, with stress identified as the dominant factor in 61% of these cases. This suggests that mental health pressures are increasingly linked to broader safety outcomes.
Exposure to physical risks also remains a concern. The proportion of workers handling chemicals has risen to 44%, up from 42% in 2025, while efforts to phase out hazardous substances remain unchanged at 62%. Awareness of crisis planning is also limited, with just 30% of workers saying they understand their employer’s crisis plan well.
Employees also identified a wider range of threats to business continuity. Cyberattacks or data breaches were cited by 42% as a key concern, followed by serious workplace injury or medical emergencies at 27%, and both fire related incidents and physical security threats at 23%.
Technology and Training to Improve Safety Outcomes
The report suggests that technology is increasingly viewed as part of the solution to workplace safety challenges. Around 72% of workers say that more digital environmental, health and safety tools would make them feel safer, up from 67% in 2025.
However, the role of technology is seen as complementary rather than a replacement for human expertise. While 47% believe artificial intelligence could improve workplace safety, employees continue to prioritise investment in people. The most commonly identified needs were more staff dedicated to safety, cited by 38%, and increased training for employees, cited by 37%.
Tom Goodmanson, CEO at EcoOnline, said that safety directly affects focus and confidence.
“When the workforce trusts their safety processes, they spend less time compensating for risk and more time doing their jobs well. Connected risk visibility is critical here – giving teams the clarity to act quickly and keep operations moving.
“Technology aids this journey by supporting better decisions and scaling human expertise, so productivity and protection reinforce each other. The companies that get this right will be the ones that treat safety as a driver of operational readiness, not just a cost of compliance.”