Construction and retail named UK’s riskiest industries to work in 2026 – iHasco

Public administration and defence recorded 2,620 days and education 1,700 days. 

Manufacturing and construction had lower mental health figures at 865 and 486 days.

Data also showed that workplace injuries cost UK businesses £22.9bn in 2024/25. 

Retail businesses spent £879m, while Scotland spent £1.6bn on workplace accidents – the highest regional cost.

Construction had 98 prosecutions and manufacturing had 71. 

Scotland had 33 prosecutions, the highest in the UK.

Manufacturing received 15,106 enforcement notices, while Construction had 8,184. 

The South East received 4,008 notices and the North West 4,033.

Nathan Pitman, managing director at iHasco, said: “As we battle through the cold, dark months, having robust procedures in place is more important than ever. 

“Slips and trips increase in winter, and the strain on staff — both physical and mental — often peaks.

“We’re seeing businesses that treat training as a continuous part of their routine, rather than a once-a-year scramble, are the ones who feel most confident in their safety culture.”

The research found top priorities for 2026 were mental health and workplace stress at 57%, manual handling injuries at 31%, workplace wellbeing culture at 31%, slips, trips and falls at 29%, fire safety at 29%, musculoskeletal issues at 23%, construction hazards at 17%, exposure to hazardous substances at 17%, health effects of sedentary work at 11%, and lone working safety at 11%.

Confidence in health and safety procedures averaged 7.94 out of 10.

Pitman added: “It’s incredibly encouraging to see that UK businesses are no longer just looking at Health and Safety as a reactive measure, but as a proactive strategy for 2026.

“The fact that confidence levels are sitting at nearly 8 out of 10 shows that when you invest in clear processes and quality training, it filters down through the whole organisation. 

“By tackling more modern challenges like burnout and mental health alongside traditional hazards like manual handling, businesses are creating a more resilient, safer environment where people actually want to work.”