Preventable Injuries Are Costing You: Take Control of Workplace Safety

Accidents happen… but they don’t have to. Most workplace injuries are preventable. With the right training, policies and workplace culture, you can lower workers’ compensation costs, protect your operations from disruption, and even save lives. June is National Safety Month, and it’s good time to assess your workplace safety practices.

4,337 Preventable Workplace Deaths

The National Safety Council says there were 4,337 preventable workplace deaths in 2024. There were also 3,950,000 medically consulted injuries.

Serious and fatal injuries can happen in a number of ways. According to the National Safety Council, based on data from 2023 to 2024, four categories of injuries cause a significant portion of days-away-from-work cases: contact incidents; overexertion; falls, slips and trips; and exposure to harmful substances or environments.

• Contact incidents include contact with people, animals, and nonrunning objects or equipment, as well as certain other incidents involving collapse, engulfment or being struct, caught or compressed.
• Overexertion incidents include overexertion while moving objects, repetitive microtasks and other similar injuries.
• Falls, slips and trips include falls to a lower level as well as slips, trips and stumbles moving between levels or on the same level.
• Exposure to harmful substances or environments includes exposure to electricity, extreme temperatures, and other harmful factors.

Traffic collisions are also a major cause of on-the-job injuries. In fact, the CDC says around three workers die in motor vehicle crashes every day.

The Business Case for Worker Safety

Promoting worker safety is one of the most effective things businesses can do to control costs and increase operational efficiency. When you focus on worker safety, the benefits can include:

• Fewer disruptions. When a worker is injured, operations often have to stop while medical care is provided. If the worker is unable to work for a while, the missed days can cause further disruptions to regular operations.
• Better morale. Injuries don’t just affect the worker who was hurt. They affect the entire workplace. Frequent or serious injuries, especially when they result in death, can degrade worker morale. Operational disruptions that put increased pressure on the workforce can also contribute to a negative environment.
• Lower workers’ compensation costs. Your company’s claim history has a direct effect on your rates. By reducing worker injuries now, you can enjoy lower rates in the future.
• Easier compliance. After an injury, your business may be subject to inspections, and you could be charged penalties as a result.
• Enhanced reputation. Worker injuries look bad to customers, partners, investors and job seekers. A commitment to worker safety shows various stakeholders that you’re responsible and trustworthy.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, studies have shown that businesses can save $4 to $6 for every $1 invested in effective workplace safety programs. And that is in direct costs – the indirect savings may be up to 10 times greater.

How Employers Can Promote Workplace Safety

Employers can improve worker safety and reduce the risk of injuries, but it takes a dedicated commitment and meaningful actions.

Things you can do include:

• Go beyond compliance. Following OSHA regulations is the bare minimum for worker safety. Don’t stop once you complete this step. Continue to work on ways to improve safety.
• Engage in ongoing risk assessment. A thorough review of your organization’s unique risks can help you identify areas for improvement. However, it’s not a one-and-done task. Regular reviews are necessary to make sure your safety programs continue to be effective. Reviews are especially important after changes in your operations, incidents or near misses.
• Elicit feedback from workers. Do your workers feel safe? Giving workers a way to provide honest, anonymous feedback and share concerns without fear of retaliation can strengthen your safety programs. But keep in mind that if workers tell you there’s a safety problem and you do nothing to address it, you’re exposing yourself to liability; make sure you have a process to respond to safety concerns timely and adequately.
• Focus on culture. Written policies and safety programs are important, but they’re only effective if they’re backed by a strong workplace culture that emphasizes safety.
• Invest in tech. New safety tools can help workers stay safe and avoid injuries. There are many options available on the market now, from AI-powered driver monitoring systems to exoskeletons that make heavy lifting safer.

Ready to take control? Heffernan Insurance Brokers can help your small business manage its risks with smart workers’ compensation and workplace safety programs. Learn more.