Each year, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) publishes annual workplace health and safety statistics. They can feel like “big picture” national data, but they offer a useful reality check for what is happening across UK workplaces, including within small and medium-sized businesses.
The latest figures show that while safety standards in Great Britain remain strong overall, work-related ill health and workplace injuries continue to have a major impact on people and businesses. For SMEs, this reinforces the value of regularly reviewing health and safety arrangements to make sure they still reflect how work is actually happening day to day.
What the latest HSE statistics tell us
The most recent annual HSE statistics (covering 2024/25) highlight the scale of workplace ill health and injury across Great Britain:
- 9 million workers experienced work-related ill health
- A large proportion related to stress, depression and anxiety, alongside musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)
- 680,000 non-fatal injuries were sustained at work (self-reported)
- 124 workers were killed in work-related accidents
- 1 million working days were lost due to work-related ill health and injury
- The estimated economic cost of workplace injury and ill health was £22.9 billion (from current working conditions)
These figures underline an important point: workplace risk is not just about serious incidents. Ongoing health issues, cumulative strain, and everyday working practices often create the biggest impact over time.
Why these statistics matter for SMEs
In many SMEs, health and safety sits alongside multiple other priorities: operations, client delivery, people management, and commercial pressures. Systems are often put in place with the right intentions, but can become less effective as the business grows, changes, or takes on new work.
The HSE figures reinforce several key realities for SMEs:
- Work-related ill health remains a persistent issue, not a short-term trend
- Mental health and wellbeing are now central health and safety considerations, not “nice to have” extras
- Lost working days and reduced productivity create real operational and financial pressure
Health and safety reviews – a practical reality check
A health and safety review is not simply about confirming that documents exist. It is about checking whether systems are working effectively in practice.
A meaningful review should consider:
- How health and safety responsibilities are managed and communicated
- Whether risk assessments reflect current activities, pressures and working patterns
- How incidents, concerns and ill health trends are identified and addressed
- Whether legal duties are being met consistently, not just occasionally
The continued levels of ill health and injury in the HSE data suggest that many risks develop gradually, often going unnoticed until they begin to affect people, performance, and absence levels.
Moving beyond compliance
The latest HSE statistics also reinforce something many SMEs recognise in practice: compliance alone is not always enough.
A business may technically meet its legal obligations while still experiencing:
- Increased absence or presenteeism
- Reduced morale or engagement
- Rising stress levels
- Operational disruption
A practical review helps bridge the gap between compliance and reality by ensuring controls remain proportionate, relevant, and aligned to how work is actually carried out.
Turning HSE data into practical action
HSE statistics are not intended to alarm businesses. They provide context and a prompt for reflection.
For SMEs, regular health and safety reviews can:
- Identify emerging risks early
- Support informed decision-making at management level
- Improve confidence among employees and leaders
- Reduce disruption caused by injury, ill health, or enforcement action
Often, improving health and safety does not require new systems or more paperwork. It can start with checking that existing arrangements still fit the business as it is today.
A proactive approach to health & safety
Reality checks support a proactive approach. Businesses evolve, and risks change alongside them. Using the latest HSE statistics as a reference point can help SMEs move away from reactive responses and towards a preventative approach that protects people, supports wellbeing, and strengthens long-term resilience.
If you would like support reviewing your current arrangements, our team can help you sense-check what is in place, identify gaps, and prioritise practical improvements.
Explore our Health & Safety support
Source:
Health and Safety Executive – Annual workplace health and safety statistics
https://press.hse.gov.uk/2025/11/20/hse-publishes-annual-workplace-health-and-safety-statistics/