The retail industry poses the most workplace health and safety risks to employees, according to new research.

The 2026 Risk Index from online training provider iHasco, which scores industries on health and safety risk from 0 to 90, found that the retail sector had a score of 85.

The scores take into account different workplace risk factors, such as accident rates, fatal injuries, mental health-related absences and enforcement taken by the Health and Safety Executive.

It analysed data from the Health and Safety Executive and surveyed UK firms on these different areas, finding that retail jobs were particularly risky. In fact, last year saw the industry report 75,000 workplace accidents.

In addition to determining the riskiest industries for workers, the 2026 Risk Index also quizzed respondents about their approach to health and safety issues.

A striking finding is that physical safety isn’t the main health and safety priority for firms in the next year or so. Fifty-seven per cent of firms said taking steps to help improve employees’ mental health and manage workplace stress was their top focus.

More traditional workplace health and safety issues, such as manual handling, lifting injuries and workplace wellbeing, are second place - with 31 per cent of respondents describing these as priority areas for the coming months.

Taking a proactive approach to workplace health and safety issues seems to be paying off for employers, too. The average score for how confident organisations are in their health and safety approach was 7.94 out of 10.

As for other risky industries, construction jobs had the same 85/90 risk score as retailing. Manufacturing was second with a score of 81, and social care came third with a score of 76. Health and social care actually had the most workplace incidents of 2025, with 79,000.

Surprisingly, office-based jobs completed the top 5 risky industries to work in, coming at fifth place with a risk score of 57. Public administration and defence, education, the private sector, accommodation and food services were also deemed risky.

Nathan Pitman, managing director at iHasco, said: “We’re seeing that businesses that treat training as a continuous habit — rather than a once-a-year exercise — are far more confident in their safety culture.

“Workplace safety doesn’t need to be daunting. With regular training and clear procedures, organisations can turn complex compliance into simple, everyday behaviour. In 2026, a proactive safety culture is one of the strongest ways to protect people, performance and long-term growth.”

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