Half of workers report rising risk of major industrial disaster
'Near misses' on the rise, driven by worker stress and fatigue
Half of UK workers are too afraid to speak up on safety in the current climate
Six in ten workers say leaders are out of touch with frontline safety risks
Rising drug and alcohol misuse is emerging as a major workplace safety threat

New analysis released today within the yearly Dräger Safety & Health at Work Report points to an escalating threat of significant industrial incidents, with more than half (53%) of those surveyed indicating that the chance of such an occurrence in their industry stands higher now than a decade earlier.

The study, marking its sixth edition and drawing from independent polling commissioned by Dräger, an international frontrunner in medical and safety technology, also examines the growth of close calls in workplace protection, with half (51%) noting that these incidents have grown over the past two years.

Global instability and unpredictability seem partly responsible for these troubling results, as nearly three-quarters (72%) indicate that supply chain interruptions have complicated access to components, supplies, or assistance, while 69% note that worldwide unpredictability has heightened tension and exhaustion, leading to mistakes or risky actions on the job.

Regular company restructurings or shifts in direction, fueled by outside instability, further complicate safety oversight, according to 61% of participants, as worldwide unpredictability ramps up operational demands and reduces focus on essential safety duties.

Participants additionally cite employee exhaustion, demands to achieve more with fewer resources, mounting tension levels, and hesitation among staff to voice concerns as factors behind the surge in close calls.

Most alarmingly, nearly two-thirds (63%) of frontline employees state that their companies fail to grasp how severe conditions have grown at the operational level regarding workplace protection.

Matthew Bedford, Managing Director, Draeger Safety UK, said: "Over the past six years, the environment surrounding workplace health and protection has kept evolving, influenced by the sudden effects of the pandemic, persistent economic strains, worldwide turbulence, and shifting workforce priorities as newer generations join the workforce."

"The outcomes from the 2026 report capture a broader setting of continued worldwide unpredictability and flux, and worryingly suggest that the combination of elements impacting workplace protection and health, as noted in the prior year's report, may be nearing a critical point."

"If there is one clear message for health and protection specialists, it is that the indicators are now clear. Organizations must pay attention and respond."

Additional notable outcomes from The Dräger Safety and Health at Work Report 2026 include:

Psychological safety: Positively, more than three-quarters of participants (76%) feel their organization is taking steps to actively involve staff in health and protection topics. Yet this outlook is offset by worries over how freely individuals can raise issues in practice.
- More than half of participants (53%) indicate that the present economic conditions reduce their readiness to highlight health and protection matters or question leadership choices.
- Over half of Gen Z participants (54%), and 51% overall, think that those who flag health and protection worries are seen as troublemakers and judged poorly by their employer.

Trust and the rise of individualism: The study shows a striking 91% of participants who say they trust themselves most when it comes to their personal protection.
- This is followed by reliance on safety technology (84%) and employers (76%). Trust falls sharply outside this immediate group, with only 25% placing faith in the Government and just 23% in AI for their safety.
- While this pattern could seem encouraging, showing people assuming more control over their own protection, the present conditions tell another tale. With staff under growing demands, higher tension, and rising exhaustion, this focus on personal duty could turn risky, weakening group awareness and shared responsibility for protection.

Drug and alcohol misuse: The study indicates this represents a mounting and complex protection issue that calls for clear policies and balanced measures, along with approaches tailored to different generations for awareness, involvement, and response.
- Younger workers (aged 18-29) were most inclined to notice a rise in colleagues' use of drugs and alcohol, with 54% spotting this pattern, compared to just 22% of those in the oldest age group.
- Overall, there is solid awareness that drugs and alcohol can undermine workplace protection, though this view is strongest among older workers: 96% of Baby Boomers (over 62) concur that substance misuse could harm safety, versus 78% of Gen Z (18-29) participants.

Notes to Editors

Dräger. Technology for Life®

Dräger stands as an international frontrunner in medical and safety technology. Its products safeguard, assist, and preserve lives. Established in 1889, Dräger recorded revenues of around € 3,5 billion in 2025. The Dräger Group operates in over 190 countries and employs more than 16,000 people globally.

About the research

This research drew responses from 1000 individuals in UK organizations with 50+ employees during March 2026. It was commissioned and funded by Drager Safety UK and carried out independently by Insight Avenue UK.

SOURCE Draeger Safety UK