Next Scottish and Welsh governments urged to protect workers and prevent harm

IOSH today sets out its priorities ahead of the forthcoming elections in both nations, based on surveys of its members working on the ground in Scotland and Wales. The organisation says the messages its members are clear and consistent: prevention must come first, and governments must innovate with their devolved powers to keep people safe, healthy and well at work.

While health and safety law is largely reserved to Westminster, IOSH says decisions taken by the Scottish and Welsh governments – relating to education and skills, public health, rural affairs, construction, infrastructure and public procurement – can contribute to prevention of harm and good health and safety management and practice.

Both Scotland and Wales continue to experience proportionally higher rates of workplace fatal injuries than the Great Britain average. In 2024-25, the fatal injury rate was 0.93 per 100,000 workers in Scotland, 0.69 in Wales and 0.37 for the whole of Great Britain.

Ruth Wilkinson, IOSH’s Head of Policy and Public Affairs, said: “Across both Scotland and Wales, health and safety professionals are telling us the same thing: too many people are still being harmed by work, and this should not be the case. Whether it’s fatal accidents, long‑term ill health or the growing toll of work-related stress and poor mental health, these harms are often foreseeable and preventable.

"We want both governments to use the powers they have to embed prevention, skills and worker wellbeing into how work is designed and delivered.

“If we act now, Scotland and Wales have a real opportunity to lead the way in building fairer, safer, healthier and more sustainable working lives.”

What OSH professionals want 

IOSH members in both nations highlighted a set of shared priorities for the next parliamentary terms, alongside issues specific to local industries and risks.

Across Scotland and Wales, professionals are calling for:

• Greater investment in health and safety skills and training, starting early and continuing throughout working life.
• Stronger action on workplace wellbeing and mental health, with a clear focus on prevention.
• Improved safety and standards in construction, driven by competence, planning and leadership.
• Better support for small and medium‑sized businesses, particularly in higher‑risk sectors.

In Scotland, members have emphasised the need to reduce fatal accidents, strengthen construction safety and improve system‑wide approaches to managing health, safety and worker wellbeing. In Wales, professionals have highlighted the ongoing risks from asbestos, the need for better protection in rural industries, and stronger action to tackle work‑related ill health.

What IOSH is calling for

Ahead of the elections, IOSH is urging both governments to take practical, prevention‑focused action within their devolved responsibilities, including:

• Embedding health and safety skills into education, apprenticeships and lifelong learning.
• Using public procurement and investment to raise safety standards, particularly in construction and infrastructure projects.
• Strengthening workplace wellbeing frameworks, including mental health, across public and private sectors.
• Supporting high‑risk industries, such as construction, agriculture and rural work, with targeted training and guidance.

In addition, IOSH is calling on the Welsh Government to introduce a national asbestos register for public buildings, and on the Scottish Government to further embed prevention‑led approaches across its fair work, infrastructure and public health agendas.

Protecting people, strengthening economies

IOSH is warning that failing to prevent harm at work carries serious human, business and economic costs — from lives lost and families affected, to lost skills, damaged productivity and long‑term pressure on public services.

However, the organisation says that by placing worker health, safety and wellbeing at the centre of devolved policy, both Scotland and Wales can support safer and healthier work, stronger economic performance and healthier communities.

“Safe and healthy work isn’t a ‘nice to have’,” added Ruth. “It’s essential for economic growth that lasts and IOSH and health and safety professionals stand ready to work with both governments to make that a reality.”