Industries With The Highest Rates Of Workplace Illness

New figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reveal the industries where workers are most at risk — and the sectors where these risks are costing businesses dearly.

Each year, around 1.7 million workers in Great Britain report work-related illnesses, and over 600,000 suffer non-fatal injuries. Beyond the human impact, these incidents can deal a major blow to operational efficiency and the bottom line.

While managing workplace risk is an inherent part of running any company, certain industries are more exposed than others. Whether through physically demanding work, exposure to crime, or sheer operational intensity, these businesses face higher costs and tougher challenges.

With this in mind, the money.co.uk business savings team analysed the latest data to uncover the sectors most affected by illness, injury, and crime – and what business owners can do to mitigate the risks.

Sectors With the Highest Rates of Work-Related Illness

Some industries have consistently high rates of workplace illness, particularly those involving frontline or high-pressure roles.

• Health and Social Care tops the list, with 129,000 reported cases. The physically and emotionally demanding nature of roles in this field highlights the need for robust employee wellbeing support and mental health resources.

• Public Administration and Defence also sees high illness rates, likely linked to the pressures of safety-critical and high-responsibility roles like policing and emergency services.

• In Education, long hours, emotional investment, and increasing workloads all contribute to a high rate of illness (1,980 per 100,000 workers), underlining the value of proper staffing and mental health initiatives.

The Most Injury-Prone Industries

When it comes to injuries, sectors characterised by physical labour and fast-paced environments dominate the rankings.

• Accommodation and Food Services had the highest injury rate, with slips, trips, and falls accounting for a large portion. Hospitality environments often involve slippery surfaces, fast-moving staff, and crowded conditions.

• In Construction, a hazardous work environment and physically demanding tasks continue to drive injuries. Despite significant safety initiatives, the sector still reported 47,000 incidents last year.

• Transportation and Storage saw 38,000 injuries, many related to manual handling and logistics operations — signalling an opportunity for improvement in training and equipment.

The Sectors With the Most Workplace Fatalities

Sadly, some industries still see regular fatalities, often due to the physical demands or unpredictability of the work.

The agriculture sector remains the most dangerous, with a fatality rate far exceeding other industries. Working with heavy machinery, unpredictable animals, and remote locations all contribute to the risks.

Sectors Most Affected by Crime

While illness and injury tend to dominate the conversation around risk, crime is another major disruptor for many UK businesses.

• Retail and wholesale businesses are the most targeted, with theft, fraud, and even aggression toward staff being key concerns.

• Utility companies, particularly those managing rural infrastructure, face challenges such as copper theft from wind farms — often carried out by organised gangs.

• Construction also faces frequent crime-related disruptions, including tool theft and site vandalism, which have caused delays to nearly one-third of projects.

The Financial Toll on Businesses

The combined cost of illness, injury, and crime is staggering:

• Ill health costs UK businesses around £14.5 billion a year, nearly £21,500 per case.

• Injuries cost around £7.1 billion, or £11,700 per case.

• Crime can lead to direct financial losses, reputational damage, and project delays. Over half of victimised businesses describe the financial impact as moderate or severe.

Building a Financial Safety Net: Expert Advice

“With the daily pressures of running a business, it’s easy to put savings on the backburner. But the reality is, a healthy contingency fund is not a luxury — it’s a necessity.”
— Joe Phelan, Business Savings Expert, money.co.uk

Joe advises business owners to regularly contribute to a dedicated business savings account. Not only can this earn interest, but it also ensures funds are readily available if disaster strikes — whether that’s staff absence due to illness, equipment damage, or theft.

Even modest, consistent savings can build vital resilience and prevent short-term disruptions from turning into long-term crises.

Final Thoughts

If you operate in one of these higher-risk sectors, it pays to be proactive. Investing in workplace safety, staff wellbeing, and business savings isn’t just about compliance — it’s about safeguarding your people and securing the long-term health of your business.

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Joe Phelan, Business Savings Expert at money.co.uk