HSE AGM 2025: Watch Online
HSE held our Annual General Meeting on 29th July, at our Headquarters in Bootle. As well as the 56 organisations and individuals who attended in person, we were also joined by almost 500 people online. Those who attended heard from the HSE Chair, Chief Executive, and Director of Finance and Performance as well as having the opportunity to ask their own questions of our Board and ExCo.
Attendees were given an update on progress made during 2024/25 on implementing our People and Places Strategy, as well as our ambitious plans over the next twelve months. This includes ensuring everyone leads safer and healthier lives and supporting the UK Government’s growth mission.
We are grateful to all of you who tuned in and asked questions. If you weren’t able to make it, you can find a full recording of the AGM on HSE’s Youtube site. If you did attend, we would appreciate your thoughts on the event in our evaluation survey.
The provisional date for next year’s event has been set as 28 July 2026, with further details on the plans to be released early next year.
HSE releases annual fatality stats
The latest annual fatality figures released by HSE show 124 workers were killed in work-related incidents in Great Britain during 2024/25. A decrease of fourteen from the previous 12-month period.
The industries with the highest number of deaths were construction (35) and agriculture, forestry and fishing (23). Of all main industry sectors, agriculture, forestry and fishing continues to have the highest rate of fatal injury per 100,000 workers followed by waste and recycling.
The most common cause of fatal injuries continues to be falls from a height (35), representing over a quarter of worker deaths.
HSE has also published the annual figures for mesothelioma (PDF) , a cancer caused by past exposure to asbestos. The figures show that 2,218 people died from the disease in 2023, representing a fall of 62 compared with 2022. Current mesothelioma deaths reflect exposure to asbestos that often occurred before the 1980s.
HSE’s Chief Executive Sarah Albon said: “Great Britain is one of the safest places in the world to work, but we must remember each of these deaths represents a tragedy for families, friends and communities.
“Despite the stability in numbers, we cannot accept that fatal accidents are an inevitable part of working life. We are encouraged by the long-term trend but urge against complacency on workplace safety.”
The full statistics can be found on the HSE website.
The latest annual fatality figures released by HSE show 124 workers were killed in work-related incidents in Great Britain during 2024/25. A decrease of fourteen from the previous 12-month period.
The industries with the highest number of deaths were construction (35) and agriculture, forestry and fishing (23). Of all main industry sectors, agriculture, forestry and fishing continues to have the highest rate of fatal injury per 100,000 workers followed by waste and recycling.
The most common cause of fatal injuries continues to be falls from a height (35), representing over a quarter of worker deaths.
HSE has also published the annual figures for mesothelioma (PDF) , a cancer caused by past exposure to asbestos. The figures show that 2,218 people died from the disease in 2023, representing a fall of 62 compared with 2022. Current mesothelioma deaths reflect exposure to asbestos that often occurred before the 1980s.
HSE’s Chief Executive Sarah Albon said: “Great Britain is one of the safest places in the world to work, but we must remember each of these deaths represents a tragedy for families, friends and communities.
“Despite the stability in numbers, we cannot accept that fatal accidents are an inevitable part of working life. We are encouraged by the long-term trend but urge against complacency on workplace safety.”
The full statistics can be found on the HSE website.
HSE launches consultation on PFAS in fire-fighting foams
HSE, in its role as the Agency for UK REACH with support from the Environment Agency, has published report assessing the risks to the environment and human health from the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighting foams (FFF).
We are suggesting restrictions on the placing on the market and use of PFAS in FFF, with transition periods. To inform the proposals, a 6-month public consultation has been launched.
The consultation provides an opportunity for those who use foams from industry, and other stakeholders, such as trade associations, to comment on the proposals before the opinions are made and sent to the Defra Secretary of State, and the Scottish and Welsh Governments for a decision on whether to bring a restriction into law.
The consultation runs until 18 February 2026 and full details, including the restriction report and supporting documents, are available here. HSE has also published a Q&A document (PDF) to help stakeholders understand the scope and limitations of the consultation.
HSE completed consultation on changes to areas of the chemicals framework
HSE has also recently completed a consultation on changes to the HSE-led areas of the chemicals regulatory framework:
- GB Biocidal Products Regulation (GB BPR)
- GB Classification, Labelling and Packaging of substances and mixtures (GB CLP)
- the export and import of hazardous chemicals – GB Prior Informed Consent (GB PIC)
This consultation directly supports the UK Government’s Regulatory Action Plan, which forms part of the broader government mission to kickstart economic growth. These proposed changes to the HSE-led areas of the chemicals framework would result in reduced costs to business.
Details of the proposals can be found on the HSE website.
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