On Friday, October 17, 2025, leading authority in workplace injury and employment law, Claim Time Solicitors, expressed concerns over the significant increase in workplace injury claims as the UK faces mounting economic and employment pressures.
According to recent figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 124 workers lost their lives in workplace accidents during 2024/25. Construction accounted for 35 of these fatalities and agriculture, forestry, and fishing recorded 23 deaths. Together, these two industries made up nearly half of all reported fatalities.
Aside from fatalities, work-related ill health continues to have a heavy impact on workers and the economy. In 2023/24, 1.7 million people were suffering from work-related ill health, with 776,000 cases being stress, depression, or anxiety, and 543,000 being musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Non-fatal injuries are also widespread, with 604,000 workers reporting an injury through the Labour Force Survey and 61,663 injuries formally recorded under RIDDOR.
The economic cost of these issues is significant. In 2023/24, 33.7 million working days were lost to work-related ill health and injury, including 16.4 million due to stress, depression, or anxiety and 7.8 million due to MSDs. The HSE estimates that the overall cost of workplace injuries and ill health reached £21.6 billion in 2022/23.
This surge in workplace injuries and ill health is closely linked to the strain on the economy. As businesses struggle with inflation, energy costs, and supply chain disruptions, many are being forced to cut back on training, maintenance, and health and safety measures. At the same time, employees facing the cost-of-living crisis are increasingly working through illness or exhaustion, creating conditions that increase the risk of accidents and long-term health problems.
High-risk industries such as construction, agriculture, healthcare, retail, and manufacturing continue to be at the forefront, but mental health issues are also rising in office-based professions as job insecurity and workloads increase.
Claim Time Solicitors has warned that while existing laws, such as the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, provide a framework for protection, the current climate highlights significant shortcomings.
The firm is calling for stronger enforcement, including more frequent inspections and higher penalties for non-compliance in dangerous sectors, as well as revised legal duties requiring employers to take a proactive approach to occupational health. It also suggests that statutory protections around sick pay and mental health should apply from the first day of employment, and workplace law must evolve to cover emerging work patterns in the gig economy, hybrid roles, and zero-hours contracts.
“Our clients’ experiences reflect what the data already shows,” said Yousaf Khan, Director at Claim Time Solicitors. “Workers are under immense pressure, and many are being put in harm’s way by circumstances they cannot control. Preventable injuries, untreated mental health problems, and unsafe workplaces are all becoming more common. The law must evolve to address these challenges and ensure workers are not left vulnerable during difficult economic times.”
A comprehensive analysis of this issue is available in the accompanying PDF report, Understanding the Rise in Workplace Injury Claims.
About Claim Time Solicitors
Claim Time Solicitors is a specialist personal injury law firm dedicated to helping clients secure fair compensation for both physical and psychological harm. With a team of experienced solicitors and a client-first approach, the firm provides expert legal support to ensure every aspect of recovery is addressed.
Media Contact:
Atif Syed
Chief Technology Officer
atif@claimtime.com
Claim Time Solicitors
Birmingham, UK
