NEWS APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR THE 2026 ROSPA HEALTH AND SAFETY AWARDS


Health and safety professionals across the world can celebrate the importance and impact of their lifesaving work, and become part of a respected legacy of health and safety excellence, as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) opens applications for the RoSPA Health and Safety Awards 2026, sponsored by NEBOSH.


Next year marks the 70th anniversary of the RoSPA Awards, which began as a small event to recognise the achievements of companies prioritising the safety of workers in UK, and has now grown into the biggest and most prestigious health and safety awards programme in the world, with the 2025 awards attracting 2,000 different entries from nearly 50 countries.


This anniversary presents the ideal opportunity for RoSPA to reflect on how far workplace safety has come since 1956 – from unguarded machines and risky practices to today’s culture of prevention and wellbeing. RoSPA award winners have played a vital role in driving this progress, creating safer workplaces


RESEARCH REVEALS THE INDUSTRIES WITH THE STEEPEST INCREASE IN FATALITIES OVER THE PAST DECADE


The job industries with the biggest increase in fatalities over the past ten years have been revealed, and the findings highlight worrying trends in sectors not traditionally viewed as high-risk.


New data, revealed by Astutis, reveals that fatalities in Public Administration, Defence, Health and Education saw the steepest increase, with workplace deaths rising by 67% compared to 10 years ago in the years 2014/15.


The second-highest increase in fatalities is by 25% by those that work in the Arts, Entertainment and Recreation industry, while the third- highest is an increase of 20% in the Wholesale and Retail Trade industry.


While fatality numbers remain highest in labour-intensive sectors such as agriculture, construction and transport, the sharp rises in these unexpected


6


industries underline a broader reality: workplace risk is spreading.


Brenig Moore, Technical Director at Astutis, said: “These figures are a stark reminder that hazards are no longer confined to the traditional ‘high-risk’ industries. Fatality rates in health, education, and professional services in particular should be a wake-up call.


“Compliance is not enough; organisations must adopt stronger safety cultures that embed risk awareness, leadership accountability, and continuous training at every level.”


However, progress in some of the UK’s most hazardous sectors shows what can be achieved with robust safety practices.


Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing remains one of the deadliest industries, with 23 fatalities recorded in 2024/25, but this is a 28% reduction compared with a decade ago.


Manufacturing has also made significant strides, cutting fatalities by almost 39% through modernised systems and improved safety management.


Construction, however, remains a stubborn outlier. With 35 deaths recorded in 2024/25, the same as in 2014/15, the industry has shown no improvement despite advances in technology and greater awareness.


“Workplace risks are evolving; stress, fatigue, lone working and new technologies are shaping today’s challenges, and unless addressed, the rise in fatalities will continue, said Moore. “Every sector, whether traditionally high-risk or not, must recognise that proactive training and modern approaches to safety are critical for protecting workers.”


www.astutis.com WWW.TOMORROWSHS.COM


across the decades and around the world.


RoSPA Chief Executive, Becky Hickman, said: “Reaching the 70th anniversary of the RoSPA Health and Safety Awards is an achievement of which RoSPA is incredibly proud. Ever since the awards were established in 1956, it has been a real privilege for RoSPA to celebrate and recognise those organisations and individuals whose tireless efforts prevent accidental deaths and injuries in the workplace.


“This year we are once again looking forwards to honouring those who


show their longstanding dedication to the highest health and safety standards by entering year after year, and also inviting new entrants to join RoSPA in working towards our vision of an accident-free world.”


The RoSPA Awards welcomes applications from organisations of all sizes, from SMEs to blue chip companies. While the Award’s scheme main categories recognise health and safety excellence for organisations and their safety management systems, the Inspiration Awards also celebrate the achievements of individuals and teams.


www.rospa.com/awards


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42