More workers killed in Scotland than anywhere else in UK as figures show 'alarming' rise in deaths
A shocking new report has found that more workers were killed in Scotland than anywhere else in the UK - with the latest figures showing an 'alarming' rise in deaths since last year.
The data for 2024/25 reveals that 26 people died in Scotland due to workplace accidents, an increase on the 18 deaths reported year before.
The research, gathered by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), also shows Scotland's rate of fatal injury has increased from 0.65 to 0.93 meaning there is nearly one death for every 100,000 Scottish workers.
Construction, agriculture, forestry and transport industries saw the most tragedies due falls from height, being struck by moving objects or collapsing equipment.
In February we told how the family of a dad who was fatally injured after falling through a roof just weeks into a new job had won a six-figure compensation fight.
Tragic Ross Hanratty, 28, plunged 30ft to his death while working on an industrial at Seafield Industrial Estate in Edinburgh in October 2022.
Ross, from Paisley, hadn't been warned the roof he was cleaning was dangerously fragile so left his safety harness unattached.
And in July Prestwick Airport were fined more than £140,000 for failures that led to the death of experienced member of its ground handling team Joseph Dempsey.
The 59-year-old died on July 11, 2023 when a corroded guardrail gave way and he fell to the tarmac below.
Fish farm worker Clive Hendry, 58, was crushed between a boat and a floating pontoon before slipping into the water during a 'touch and go' transfer at salmon giant Mowi's Ardintoul site in the North West Highlands in February 2020.
The company was fined £800,000 after being found to have breached health and safety laws - and a Fatal Accident Inquiry into Clive's death later concluded it could have been avoided after there were a multitude of failures identified.
The latest UK-wide data showed men accounted for 95% of all fatalities while 40% of all incidents involved people over the age of 60.
Campaigners said the figures cause concern and called for tougher punishment on employers who fail to keep workers safe.
David Bell, Senior Associate at law firm Irwin Mitchell who specialises in fatal accident claims, said: 'To see the fatal workplace rate increase so sharply over seven months is truly alarming.
'The HSE data is really useful and contributes to making various sectors safer but ultimately it falls to employers as all too often fatal workplace accidents are the result of negligence when corners have been cut on PPE, safe working processes or completing risk assessments.
'I urge officials to review what could be done to guarantee safety compliance at the beginning of tasks rather than review safety procedures in hindsight – I believe tougher penalties on those who fail to follow basic life-saving guidance would also be beneficial.
'Because the real tragedy is these 26 Scottish incidents represent 26 families, each now without a loved one and facing a painful and uncertain future.
'No one deserves to go to work feeling that they or their loved one may not return home.'
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