No business owner wants to see a worker injured on the job. Yet, despite the prevalence of safety programs and laws, 2.6 million worker injuries and illnesses are reported annually in the United States.
In a new report, Travelers analyzed more than 1.2 million workers compensation claims to identify injury trends that affect businesses across all sizes and industries. Here's what they found:
First Year Danger
The first year on the job is the most dangerous time for workers. According to Travelers, 35% of workplace injuries occur in the first year, resulting in over 6 million missed workdays. Restaurant workers are most at risk for first-year injury claims.
Percentage of first-year injuries in workers comp claims by industry:
- 52% Restaurant
- 44% Construction
- 39% Transportation
- 39% Retail
- 35% Services
- 35% Wholesale
- 30% Manufacturing
The Age Factor
You might think your youngest or "greenest" workers are most at risk for injuries in the first year, but you'd be mistaken. 35-49 year olds are most at risk for workplace injuries. This might be a case of confidence meets complacency -- this age group is likely to have gained plenty of experience years in their field but may not be considering the impacts of aging on their physical safety and performance to be overly cautious in the field.
Percentage of workplace injuries by age group:
- 11% 60+ years old
- 25% 50-59 years old
- 32% 35-49 years old
- 21% 25-34 years old
- 10% 18-24 years old
Construction Industry Losses: More Costs and Days Lost
Workers lose an average of 72 days per injury across all industries. Construction industry injuries result in the most missed workdays; the average number of lost workdays per construction industry is 103 days or 14 weeks.
Injuries in the construction industry are also the most expensive. Workers compensation claims for construction injuries are almost double the all-industry average.
Small Business Slips
Slips, trips, and falls should be a big concern for small businesses. Slips, trips, and falls are the most frequent cause of workers compensation injury claims and have the highest cost per claim. Whether falling from heights, ladders, and scaffolding or slips and trips on the ground floor, these injuries can impact businesses across all sizes and industries.
Other common causes of workers comp injuries include:
- Overexertion: lifting, twisting, pushing, or pulling
- Struck by an object: falling or flying objects or motor vehicles
- Motor vehicle accidents: collisions or sideswipes with objects or other vehicles
- Caught-in or -between: caught in, under, or between machines, objects, or materials
Safety Culture + Workers Compensation Coverage
Protecting your workers is always crucial, but the Travelers report demonstrates how critical it is during the first year of employment. Creating a safety-first culture in your business can help reduce the risk of first-year (and subsequent year) injuries.
Elements of a safety-focused culture includes:
- Leadership commitment to safety initiatives and incentives
- Open communication for discussing safety concerns and potential hazards
- Regular safety training including relevant procedures and proper use of equipment
- Hazard identification and reporting system with prompt follow-up
- Incentives and positive reinforcement for safe behaviors and practices
- Incident investigation to identify and improve risks
- Continual improvement and iteration of safety programs and practices
Workers compensation insurance is required by law in almost every state. Depending on your state and industry, you may have a legal requirement to carry workers compensation coverage for a single employee or yourself if you have no other employees. This essential coverage helps protect your employees so they don't have to pay the high cost of medical treatment or lost wages if they get injured or ill while performing their jobs.
Workers compensation coverage doesn't have to be complicated. Contact a trusted commercial insurance professional to learn more about your legal requirements for workers compensation insurance or to get a quote to cover your workers.