HSE statistics show that each year, over a million workers are injured or made ill by their work in Great Britain. This can have serious effects on these individuals and their families, as well as employers, government and wider society. The impacts can be measured in terms of ‘human’ costs (the impact on the individual’s quality of life and, for fatal injuries, loss of life), and ‘financial’ costs, such as loss of production and healthcare costs. HSE’s estimate of the total costs of workplace injuries and ill health includes both financial costs and a valuation of human costs.
The latest estimates show that, based on data from 2021/22 to 2023/24, an average of 581,000 workers were injured in workplace accidents each year and a further 674,000 workers each year suffered a new case of ill health which they believe to be caused or made worse by their work1. The cost estimates (for 2022/23) include only new cases of work-related ill health and self-reported injuries, and exclude pre-existing cases, to represent the costs arising from current working conditions.
Total Costs to Britain were around £21.6bn in 2022/23 2
| Injury and ill health | Cost |
|---|---|
| £7.1 bn injury (equivalent to unit cost of £11,700 per case) |
7100000000 |
| £14.5 bn ill health (equivalent to unit cost of £21,500 per case) |
14500000000 |
The total costs of workplace self-reported injuries and ill health in 2022/23 was £21.6 billion. Ill health causes the biggest proportion of total costs at around 67% (£14.5 billion), with injury resulting in around 33% of total costs (£7.1 billion). Ill health cases typically result in more time off work on average, which drives higher costs.
Individuals bear the majority of costs
Individual costs are £12.6 bn. Costs to the employer are £4.1 bn. Costs to the Government are £4.9 bn.
| Category | Individuals | Employer | Government |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workplace self-reported injuries | 12600000000 | 4100000000 | 4900000000 |
The majority of costs fall on individuals, driven by human costs, while employers and government/taxpayers bear a similar proportion of the remaining costs of workplace injury and ill health
Change over time
- Our central estimate of total costs in 2022/23 (£21.6bn) represents a decrease of around £1.6 billion (a 7% decrease) compared with 2021/22, marking an end to the post-pandemic rise. Prior to the pandemic, our estimates of total costs had shown little variation since 2009/10
- The chart showing the cost over time can be found in the report Costs to Britain of workplace fatalities and self-reported injuries and ill health, 2022/23
Notes
- Source: Labour Force Survey (non-fatal injuries) and RIDDOR (fatal injuries); annual average estimate 2021/22-2023/24 Back to refeence of footnote 1
- Estimated annual average costs 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24 (in 2023 prices) Back to reference of footnote 2
More information about costs to Britain of workplace injuries and ill health
- Costs to Britain of workplace fatalities and self-reported injuries and ill health, 2022/23
- Unit costs of workplace injuries and ill health cases
- Detailed report of the methods used to estimate economic costs to Britain
- Short description of the methods used to estimate economic costs
- Further Costs tables
- Costs to Britain of Work-related Cancer in 2010
- Supplementary analysis of Costs to Britain data: using existing ill health appraisal values to estimate illustrative costs of work-related musculoskeletal disorders and stress (available via the National Archives)