2 MIN READ
Published 06/17/2022
Together.
We can reduce the top 10 causes of disabling workplace injuries.
Today, the top 10 causes of workplace injuries cost U.S. businesses more than $1 billion a week, with total injuries costing more than $58 billion every year. Yet what makes these statistics even more disheartening is that the risk of many workplace injuries can be reduced.
The 2022 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index (WSI) compiles the top 10 causes of the most serious disabling workplace injuries – those that caused employees to miss work for more than five days – ranked by direct cost to employers based on medical and lost-wage expenses.
Back injuries and broken bones can occur on any job, not just high-risk industries such as construction and healthcare. By making business owners aware of how serious injuries happen, we can work together to reduce risk and create a safer workplace for tomorrow.
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1. Overexertion involving outside sources (handling objects)
Cost per year: $12.63B
2. Falls on the same level
Cost per year: $10.26B
3. Struck by object or equipment (being hit by objects)
Cost per year: $5.66B
4. Falls to a lower level
Cost per year: $5.07B
5. Other exertions and bodily reactions (awkward postures)
Cost per year: $4.01B
6. Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicle (motor vehicle crashes)
Cost per year: $3.59B
7. Slip or trip without a fall
Cost per year: $2.52B
8. Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects
Cost per year: $2.19B
9. Struck against object or equipment (person colliding with objects or equipment)
Cost per year: $1.87B
10. Nonroadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles (off-road vehicle incidents)
Cost per year: $1.39B
Industry risk exposures: what our data show
Common causes of injury may be unique for specific industries. Exploring this connection further, our WSI includes eight industry-specific reports. Take a deeper dive into the costliest causes of injuries in the following industries:
A safer workplace helps protect your employees — and your bottom line. Partner with your insurance broker and carrier to learn how to identify and control for potential workplace injuries. Every preventive step helps you better mitigate your exposure to risks.
Liberty is here for you. Today. Tomorrow. Together.
Study methodology: the annual Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index is based on information from Liberty Mutual Insurance, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI).1 BLS nonfatal injury data are analyzed with the Liberty Mutual data to determine which events caused employees to miss more than five days of work, and then to rank those events by workers compensation costs, which are then scaled to the NASI total cost. To capture accurate injury cost data, each index is based on data three years prior. Accordingly, the 2022 index reflects 2019 data.
1. Liberty Mutual is grateful for the data collection accomplished by the National Academy of Social Insurance (https://www.nasi.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2021-Workers-Compensation-Report-2019-Data.pdf), and the customized data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Safety, Health, and Working Conditions.
Featured insights
This website is general in nature, and is provided as a courtesy to you. Information is accurate to the best of Liberty Mutual’s knowledge, but companies and individuals should not rely on it to prevent and mitigate all risks as an explanation of coverage or benefits under an insurance policy. Consult your professional advisor regarding your particular facts and circumstance. By citing external authorities or linking to other websites, Liberty Mutual is not endorsing them.
