When a workplace injury occurs, actual injury costs are often between five to 50 times the size of the obvious direct costs of medical expenses and salary for the injured worker. Indirect costs include money spent on things such as repairing damaged equipment, time and money spent on hiring and training replacement personnel as well as lost productivity and quality because less experienced employees replace key injured employees.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, all direct and indirect costs associated with occupational injuries can comprise as much as 5 percent of a company’s total costs.
“Preventing workplace accidents and injuries, aside from being the right thing to do, can save companies thousands of dollars on their insurance premiums and keep companies functioning at full capacity,” said Workers Compensation Fund CEO and President, Ray Pickup. “Workplace safety must become a priority for every company.”
With June as national safety month, it’s a great time for employers and employees to review how to make their workplace safer. Your organization can start by focusing on systems and processes that have the greatest potential to cause injury as well as the most common injury types. Workers Compensation Fund 2013 Utah claims data shows:
Eight Most Common Claims from 2013
- Slip and Falls: 20%
- Cut: 17%
- Hit Against an Object: 16%
- Strain by Lifting: 12%
- General Strain: 12%
- Caught in Object 5%
- Burn 2%
- Motor Vehicle 2%
Average Claims Cost from 2013
- Motor Vehicle: $35,328
- Slip and Fall: $9,805
- Caught in Object: $8,066
- Strain by Lifting:: $4,497
- General Strains: $4,074
- Hit Against an Object: $3,905
- Burn: $1,927
- Cut: $1,278