HSE and JIB analyses show overall improvement in safety

The recently published JIB Accident Survey 2025 demonstrates a continuing overall improvement in the Accident Incident Rate but indicates a markedly higher incidence among self-employed operatives within the electrotechnical sector. 

This is a confirmation of the core JIB principle that direct employment promotes greater safety outcomes among the workforce. 

Rob Miguel, National Health and Safety Advisor at Unite the Union, commented on the results of the survey:

“The electrotechnical industry under the auspices of the electrical JIB, prides itself in setting standards for health and safety at a premium level. The JIB collaborative approach of employers and unions working together ensures safety and workers’ health on an equal footing with pay, training, benefits and working conditions.

“This type of climate and excellent culture produces positive results, this is clearly shown in the JIB Accident Survey 2025. Improvement on the previous year was positive, and the picture has vastly changed in the last 25 years with a reduction in accidents of 79%. The results for pro-active compliance were just as encouraging measured across six performance indicators.

“One of the main concepts of the JIB model is advocating directly employed workers, this is totally justified in these results which show an incidence rate 140% higher for self-employed operatives. The collaborative model that is shown here through the JIB not only produces better pay and conditions, it saves lives.”

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has also published its provisional figures for work-related fatalities for 2025/26. Although analysis shows that the number of work deaths in 2025/26 is lower than previous years, there were 126 work-related fatal incidents, of which the construction sector accounted for 25.

Tony Sidewell, Head of Safety, Health & Environment at the Electrical Contractors’ Association, said:

“Data such as this is essential as it helps businesses, trade associations and other agencies to focus on where input and assistance is most needed.

“Although this figure is lower than the past five-year average (which is 37), business leaders and senior management must ensure that their companies adopt a multi-layered approach that includes rigorous risk management, suitable training to help ensure a competent workforce and a pro-active health and safety culture where two-way communication, employment empowerment and an ‘open door’ policy is the norm.

“The statistics also show that there is still much work to do to reduce these numbers and the associated tragic effects on families and friends.”

A summary of the JIB Survey of Accidents at Work 2025 is available here.

The provisional figures for RIDDOR: Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2025/26 are available here.

jib.org.uk