This list reveals the deadliest industries in the UK, with the total number of fatalities recorded amongst workers and members of the public between 2014 and 2022. The research has been compiled by financial experts at Moneyzine.
Jonathan Merry, CEO of Moneyzine, comments:
A number of things may impact what career path a person chooses to take – average salary, qualifications, etc – but is an individual’s safety something they should consider too? This list highlights the sectors in which the most accidents can occur, shedding some light on the most dangerous careers for people in the UK to embark on.
Jonathan Merry, CEO of Moneyzine
1. Public Administration and Defence
In the eight-year timespan between 2014 and 2022, there were a reported 430 fatal deaths in total – 171 workers were fatally injured, while 259 members of the public were fatally injured in this period. Across the timespan, the average rate of injury per 100,000 workers was just 0.05, reflecting the size of this industry. According to HSE, this sector accounts for 7% of the workforce in the UK.
2. Transportation and storage
In eight years, there have been a total of 415 fatal injuries in this industry – with 302 members of the public fatally injured, and 113 workers. This industry is still considered relatively small in the UK, accounting for 5% of business premises.
3. Construction
It’s important to note that while the construction industry has the third highest rate of mortality between 2014 and 2022, it actually had the highest number of worker deaths overall, at 293 workers fatally injured in this eight-year period. The construction industry accounts for approximately 3 million jobs and 10% of total UK employment, taking the average rate of injury per 100,000 workers to 1.67.
4. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
The agriculture, forestry, and fishing industry has the fourth overall highest fatality rate, but the second highest number of deaths recorded amongst workers overall. What’s more, this industry has the highest average rate of injury per 100,000 workers in the eight-year time span reviewed, at 8.39.
5. Human health and social work activities
The fifth most deadly industry in the UK is human health and social work activities, although it’s important to note that just 8 deaths have been recorded amongst workers between 2014 and 2022, with members of the public accounting for the remaining 205 fatalities.
The majority of these deaths are to patients and service users and are therefore less likely to be deemed as accidents and more as natural causes of death. This industry has a rate of injury per 100,000 workers of just 0.04.
6. Manufacturing
Manufacturing is another industry with a high number of fatalities to workers – 159 between 2014 and 2022, whilst just 2 deaths of members of the public were recorded in the same time period.
7. Wholesale and retail trade
In total, 141 fatalities were recorded within this sector in the past eight years, with 82 worker-related fatalities and 59 deaths in members of the public. The overall rate of injury per 100,000 workers for the wholesale and retail trade sector is 0.18.
8. Information and communication
A total of 112 deaths have been recorded in both workers and members of the public in this industry between 2014 and 2022, with 86 deaths recorded among workers and 26 fatalities to members of the public. The average rate of injury per 100,000 workers in this eight-year time span is 0.15 for the information and communication industry.
9. Arts, entertainment, and recreation
The arts, entertainment, and recreation industry is the ninth most deadly industry in the UK, with a total of 84 fatalities between 2014 and 2022 and an average rate of injury of 0.15.
This industry sector encompasses activities or households as employers, undifferentiated services producing activities for their own uses, and the activities of extraterritorial organisation. In total, 21 deaths amongst workers were recorded in this eight-year time span, while 63 deaths were recorded amongst members of the public.
10. Water supply
Finally, the tenth deadliest industry in the UK is the water supply industry, including sewerage, waste management, and remediation activities. A total of 81 deaths were recorded between 2014 and 2022.
Workplace Wellbeing Professional is an online magazine featuring news and analysis on a broad range of employee wellbeing topics, focused on a UK based audience.