White Paper Summary

Every employer wants to keep their workers safe and healthy. But some of the latest data suggests their efforts are falling short, and it comes at a steep cost.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that 2.9 workplace injuries occurred for every 100 full-time employees in 2017, totaling about 3.3 million nationally. Collectively, workplace injuries cost the U.S. economy roughly $52 billion to $60 billion per year — that’s at least $1 billion per week.

The impact comes not just from expensive medical treatment, but from absenteeism, decreased productivity, and increased employee turnover as well.

“According to BLS data, 30 percent of injured workers are placed off-duty, while 23 percent are placed on restricted duty or transferred to another position. That comes with replacement costs. New workers have to be hired and trained; turnover impedes productivity and impacts employee engagement,” said Giovanni Gallara, senior vice president of Therapy and Ancillary Services at Concentra, the nation’s largest occupational health provider. What makes those numbers even more shocking is that many workplace injuries can be prevented. High injury persistence demonstrates that standard safety training may not be enough.

“Employers need to prioritize injury prevention for the sake of their workers’ health, and their own financial health,” Gallara said. “That requires taking a hard look at the role that safety plays in your day-to-day operation and identifying the injury drivers where the employer can proactively make an impact.”

Here’s how employers can begin establishing a true injury prevention program:

To learn more about Concentra, please visit their website.