50% of workers ‘regularly skipped’ health and safety training, survey finds

By Danny BallPublished On: June 8th, 2026Categories: Top Stories

A growing number of construction workers are paying for their own health and safety training, while many believe employers are failing to dedicate enough time and resources to workplace safety, according to new research from training provider Astutis.

The findings come as official figures continue to show construction remains the UK’s most dangerous industry for workplace fatalities.

Astutis’ Learner Report, found that one in 10 employees had funded their own health and safety training, while almost a third (31%) said their employer’s training budget was insufficient for their role or level of risk.

The research also found that half of workers (50%) believe health and safety training is regularly skipped because there is not enough time during the working day.

Construction remains the UK’s highest-risk sector

The survey coincides with the latest workplace fatality statistics, which showed that 124 people died in work-related incidents during 2024/25.

Construction accounted for 35 of those deaths, representing 28% of the total and making it the highest-risk sector for fatal workplace accidents.

Falls from height remained the leading cause of fatal incidents, accounting for 35 deaths during the reporting period.

The latest government figures also show that 33.7 million working days were lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury, highlighting the ongoing economic and operational impact of poor workplace health and safety.

Steve Terry, Managing Director at Astutis, said the findings suggest health and safety training is not always treated as a priority.

He said: “When workers are reaching into their own pockets for critical training, it’s a wake-up call. We’re not just talking about professional development, but life-saving knowledge being treated as an option rather than a necessity.

“In fast-paced sectors, safety can become something that is dealt with when time allows, but the cost of an accident, injury or regulatory action far outweighs the time invested in training.”

Workplace safety culture under the spotlight

The Astutis research also highlighted the role of workplace culture in improving safety performance.

More than half of respondents (51%) said creating a safer workplace depended more on the behaviour of colleagues than on formal rules or a lack of knowledge.

The findings suggest that alongside compliance and technical training, employers may need to place greater emphasis on accountability and behavioural safety programmes across their organisations.

For construction businesses, where multiple contractors and trades often work alongside one another, maintaining consistent safety standards remains a significant challenge.

The latest data comes as the industry continues to focus on improving site safety, reducing workplace accidents and addressing skills shortages, with employers under increasing pressure to balance productivity with robust health and safety management.

Astutis said the findings highlight the need for continued investment in workforce training and a stronger safety culture across high-risk sectors such as construction, where effective health and safety practices remain critical to reducing accidents and protecting workers.