Media releases

In the UK, 669 incidents were recorded in 2025, a 2% increase on 2024, alongside a 7% rise in hours worked to over eight million, indicating a reduction in overall incident rates relative to activity.

For the first time, the report also includes data from the Republic of Ireland, where 32 incidents were recorded across approximately 1.36 million hours worked, marking a significant step forward in expanding the scope of SafetyOn’s reporting.

Key findings include:

• Activity continues to grow: Total hours worked in the UK increased by 7%, while incident numbers rose by 2%, indicating a reduction in incident rates relative to overall activity.

• TRIR and LTIF return to typical levels: Both metrics increased year-on-year, following record-low performance in 2024.

• Severity indicators increase: Lost work day incidents and emergency response cases rose, highlighting the need for continued focus in these areas.

• Emerging risks: Significant increase in security-related incidents, indicate shifting areas of operational risk as the sector evolves.

• Targeted interventions show impact: Reductions in driving-related and electrical system incidents suggest potential positive outcomes from SafetyOn’s guidance and industry initiatives.

• Injury profile remains consistent: Hand injuries remain the most common, with most incidents resulting in lower severity outcomes such as first aid.

In the UK, the Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) rose from 0.30 to 0.58 and the Lost Time Incident Frequency (LTIF) from 0.09 to 0.31, reflecting a return to more typical levels following the record low performance in 2024. This increase was largely driven by a rise in lost work day incidents, suggesting that while fewer incidents occurred relative to hours worked, those that did were relatively more severe.

While the 2025 data highlights increasing complexity as the industry grows across new geographies and scales activity, it also demonstrates continued engagement from SafetyOn members in transparent reporting and shared learning to improve outcomes.

Commenting, Darren Taylor, Chair of SafetyOn and Head of U.K & Ireland Onshore Operations at Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, said:

“As onshore wind continues to expand, maintaining a strong and proactive safety culture is essential to supporting that growth.

“This year’s data reflects both the progress made and the evolving nature of risk across the sector. The increase in high potential and more severe incidents underlines the importance of focusing not just on reducing incident frequency, but on preventing those with the potential for the greatest harm. 

“SafetyOn continues to work collaboratively across the industry to turn insight into action and drive improvements where they matter most.”

Dr Nick Wayth CEng FEI, CEO of the Energy Institute, the home of SafetyOn, added:

“As onshore wind plays an increasingly important role in delivering secure, low carbon energy, the safety and wellbeing of the workforce must remain a top priority.

“SafetyOn provides critical leadership in helping industry understand where risks are emerging, and how they can be addressed through collaboration, data, and targeted initiatives. This report reinforces both the progress being made and the importance of maintaining a clear focus on safety as the sector continues to grow.”

Based at the Energy Institute, the 2025 report represents a significant milestone for SafetyOn, with the inclusion of Republic of Ireland data strengthening its role in providing a comprehensive, evidence-based view of health and safety performance across the onshore wind sector.

In light of an increasing trend of hand injuries, SafetyOn released its award winning hand injury video campaign in 2023 which continues to raise awareness across the sector and plays a key role in reducing preventable injuries. SafetyOn members have been proactive in responding to this trend, openly sharing lessons learned, safety alerts and in‑house campaigns to support safer working practices across the wider industry.

SafetyOn also recognises the risks involved in working in high voltage and electrical environments. To help ensure safety remains central in these areas, SafetyOn has published a series of good practice guidance documents in recent years, including guidance for HV Contractors on Wind Farms and High Voltage Access Awareness. SafetyOn recently received the Best Practice Award at the Scottish Green Energy Supply Chain Awards for its Safe by Design report on electrical safety.

ENDS

Notes for editors

1. For media enquiries, please contact Ruaraidh Swainson, Energy Institute Communications Officer, 020 7467 7173, [email protected]

2. The report can be viewed in full here: https://safetyon.com/work-programme/statistics

3. SafetyOn brings together health and safety experts, professionals, and stakeholders to provide advice, share best practice, and create positive change in the onshore wind sector through incident data reporting, good practice guidelines, safe by design, and learning from shared incidents.

4. About the Energy Institute (EI) - The EI is the chartered professional membership body for people who work across the world of energy.  
   Our purpose is to create a better energy future for our members and society by accelerating a just, secure, and low carbon energy transition. 
   We do this by attracting and developing a diverse future energy workforce; convening expertise and evidence to inform energy decision making; and enabling industry to make energy safer, more efficient and lower carbon. 
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