Workplace Injuries Decreasing, Costs Increasing
Many people don’t enjoy their job for many reasons. Maybe they don’t like their boss or co-workers. Perhaps it’s the customers. In some cases, the job may be too dangerous.
Many people are injured or killed in workplace accidents every day. This can be a frustrating situation, but the good news is that workplace accidents and injuries are on the decline. The bad news is that despite this, costs are still rising.
What is causing this? A June 3 report from workers’ compensation insurer Travelers shows that this is due in part to changing workforce demographics. There has been a continuous job churn over the past five years, creating a steady stream of new employees. But these employees are considered among the most vulnerable to injuries.
In addition, 36% of all workplace injuries over the past five years occurred during an employee’s first year on the job. This is an increase from the 34% reported between 2015 and 2019.
The study also noted a slight rise in injury claims among workers over the age of 50. While older employees tend to be injured less often, their claims are typically more costly and require longer recovery times.
From 2020 to 2024, the average employee missed 80 workdays per injury. This results in seven more days than the average in the previous five-year period. This data comes from Travelers’ review of more than 2.6 million claims filed over the past decade.
What Can Employers Do?
To help mitigate these risks, it is recommended employers adopt proactive safety measures, especially during onboarding. New hires should be trained on essential safety procedures, including the location of emergency exits, eye wash stations, and safety protocols.
Training should be skills-based, providing hands-on instruction for safely completing tasks. Employers are also encouraged to include awareness-based training, which covers hazard recognition, safety policies, and how to report unsafe conditions or injuries. This approach equips workers with both practical knowledge and a broader understanding of workplace safety culture.
Employers should also address customer aggression and workplace harassment, which are issues that have become more common in recent years. These should include clear protocols for managing different levels of harassment, including inappropriate behavior not covered under civil rights protections.
Individual risk factors, such as gender and physical ability, can impact injury vulnerability as well. Diversity and inclusion efforts in safety programs can reduce injuries and foster a more inclusive safety culture. For example, personal protective equipment (PPE) is often designed for the average white man which can lead to ill-fitting gear for women, nonbinary, and transgender workers, increasing their risk of injury.
Contact a New Jersey Personal Injury Lawyer Today
Companies need to focus on ensuring employees can perform their job duties in a safe manner. While it’s great that workplace accidents have decreased, there’s still a lot that needs to be done.
When a workplace injury occurs, there are two potential avenues to injury compensation: personal injury claims and workers’ compensation claims. Each of these claims has its own advantages and disadvantages, and specific situations in which they can be filed. Learn more by contacting a Morristown work-related accidents attorney from The Law Offices of Michael P. Burakoff. Schedule a consultation by calling (973) 455-1567 or filling out the online form.
Source:
hrdive.com/news/workplace-injuries-declining-costs-climbing-travelers/750427/
