04/09/2008

The Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety recently released the 2007 Workplace Safety Index, an annual report identifying which workplace injuries cost U.S. industry the most in workers' compensation. The index is a tool for safety professionals who are trying to evaluate where to focus safety efforts in the workplace.

The Top 10

According to the 2007 Workplace Safety Index, which includes data from 1998 through 2005 (the most recent year data are available), the top 10 most disabling injuries—work-related injuries and illnesses that result in an employee losing six or more days from work—cost U.S. industry an estimated $48.3 billion in direct workers' comp costs in 2005. The top 10 include:

1. Overexertion, which includes injuries caused by excessive lifting, pushing, pulling, holding, carrying, or throwing: $12.7 billion (26.3 percent)


2. Fall on the same level: $6.6 billion (13.6 percent)


3. Fall to a lower level: $5 billion (10.4 percent)


4. Bodily reaction, which includes injuries from slipping or tripping without falling: $4.8 billion (10 percent)


5. Struck by an object: $4.4 billion (9 percent)


6. Highway incidents: $2.3 billion (4.8 percent)


7. Repetitive motion: $2.1 billion (4.4 percent)


8. Struck against an object (for example, a worker walking into a door): $2 billion (4.3 percent)


9. Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects: $1.9 billion (3.9 percent)


10. Assaults and/or violent acts: $0.4 billion (0.8 percent)

The 2007 Workplace Safety Index revealed that, from 1998 to 2005, the inflation-adjusted cost of the top 10 injuries increased by almost 4 percent, although the incidence of these injuries decreased by 21 percent during the same period, as reported by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The cost increases were likely a function of both general increases in healthcare costs, which, on average, increased between 7 and 8 percent a year during the same period, and an increase in the number of injuries in certain categories.

Highest Increases

The injury categories which saw the highest increase in costs from 1998 to 2005 were fall on the same level (a 25.6 percent increase) and fall to a lower level (a 16.4 percent increase). According to the BLS, floors, walkways, and ground surfaces accounted for 19 percent of injuries in 2005, and falls from ladders increased by 10 percent from 2004. Falls on the same level and falls to a lower level also include injuries such as fractures which generally rank in the top two injuries for median number of days away from work and, thus, are injuries that cost more in workers' comp.

Sharpest Declines

Two injury categories significantly declined in cost from 1998 to 2005: repetitive motion (a 27.5 percent decline) and assaults and/or violent acts (a 19.4 percent decline). Several recent studies and BLS data have indicated that the number of repetitive motion injuries has dropped significantly, which most researchers attribute to two factors. First, the number of diagnoses of carpal tunnel syndrome, which researchers believe was likely over-diagnosed by medical professionals in its "heyday," has declined. Second, increased attention by employers to making ergonomic improvements in the workplace has reduced the risks of repetitive injuries to workers. For assaults and/or violent acts, BLS statistics indicate that reports of lost workday injuries in this category have declined significantly in recent years. For instance, from 2004 to 2005, injuries in this category declined by 18 percent.

The Bottom Line

The Workplace Safety Index provided by Liberty Mutual can assist safety professionals in targeting safety efforts. "Any business that's trying to improve a process must first make a business case for process changes. Safety is no exception. The Workplace Safety Index helps safety managers initiate the necessary dialogue with senior executives," explains Karl Jacobson, senior vice president of Liberty Mutual Group. Using tools like the index and company-specific injury data, safety professionals are better able to recognize and address safety issues in the workplace.

The Best Defense Is a Good Offense

It's a well-worn quote—but a true one nevertheless. Being proactive in safety prevents injuries and deaths and saves money. To learn effective strategies to go on the offensive against workplace injuries before they knock out your workers and your workers' comp costs skyrocket, join COCA on April 25 for an informative 90-minute audio conference, "Injury Prevention in California: The Best Ways to Protect Employees and Reduce Workplace Costs." During this event, you'll learn, among other things, how to identify the true cost of injuries in your workplace, how to benchmark your company against comparable workplaces, and ways to gain commitment at all levels of your organization.

To learn more and register for this audio conference, click here.