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Risk Central
Digital EditionWhy Small Businesses Are Struggling with Safety — and the Low-Cost Fixes That Work
Michelle Kerr is Workers’ Compensation Editor and National Conference Chair for Risk & Insurance. She can be reached at [email protected].
This industry runs on stats and data; new reports and surveys pop up every week. But smaller employers don’t always see their realities reflected among the figures in those reports. Small businesses, always tasked with achieving more with less, walk a fine line between staying ahead of injury risks and staying competitive.
Pie Insurance’s 2025 State of Workplace Safety Report, published in April, offers a window into what’s really happening in the small- to medium-sized business safety landscape. T
hey found 75% of small businesses reported workplace injuries last year, with half of those injuries considered preventable. Perhaps most surprising is the shifting nature of the workplace injuries themselves. Mental healthrelated injuries (22%) now surpass traditional physical risks like slips, trips and falls (20%) as the leading cause of workplace incidents among small and medium businesses.
Despite this shift, only 52% of businesses have protocols in place to address mental health concerns. Smaller businesses are lagging in technology adoption, but they’re working to catch up. The report indicates that 44% of small businesses are now using AI to reduce safety risks, but most lack the resources to implement the tech-driven safety solutions larger entities are exploring.
Then there’s buy-in, which employers of every size struggle with. A substantial 42% of businesses in the Pie survey cited employee resistance as a primary barrier. Business owners reported that 36% of employees simply “don’t think it’s necessary” and another 32% claim they “forgot” the procedures. Those numbers might make some readers grit their teeth, but look at what an opportunity that presents for small employers — engagement and buy-in don’t require heavy capital investment or fancy equipment.
To target that 42%, here are three areas to focus on:
Training Is Everything: Focus on role-specific training that connects safety procedures to your employee’s personal safety and wellbeing and to your organization’s mission and goals. Consider microlearning approaches — short and sweet safety refreshers rather than packing everything into annual or quarterly training. Think of ways to impart a safety tip or reminder every single day, no matter how small.
Communication from the Heart: Imagine how impactful it is for an owner or risk manager to speak with every single employee one-on-one. It’s far easier for small entities to create those opportunities. Layer onto your safety conversations with consistent reinforcement, whether through posters, stickers, cards, texts or other inexpensive tools.
Safety Culture Permeates Everything: In successful safety cultures, safe behaviors become the default. This means leadership visibly prioritizing safety over productivity when conflicts arise, recognizing and celebrating safety-conscious employees, and ensuring safety considerations are integrated into every business decision.
For small businesses, this cultural element is critical — when resources are limited, safety culture is a smaller organization’s most valuable asset. Even without the benefit of deep pockets, small and medium businesses can not only reduce injuries and injury costs, but also create environments where employees feel valued and in turn value safety. &
