Credit: Charlize Davids/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock
Serious injuries and fatalities (SIFs) are happening less in the workplace, according to a seven-year study by ISN.
Serious injuries and fatalities fell 16% in 2023 when compared to 2022, the data showed, posting the lowest total since 2017 and suggesting the start of a downward trajectory as industry continues to shift towards higher consequence events.
“A strong safety culture is the foundation of an effective safety program and organizations need reliable insights to drive meaningful change,” said Marie Anderson, chief customer success officer and head of review and verification services at ISN.
The top causes for serious injury or death on job sites remains contact with objects or equipment, which accounted for 60% of severe injuries between 2015 and 2024.
In 2023, transportation incidents became the leading cause of workplace fatalities for the first time, making up 43% of all fatal cases. More than 1,000 cases were reported in the transportation industry in 2023, with a 30% increase in serious injury or death from 2021 to 2023.
Meanwhile, contractors in the construction industry experienced over 1,200 serious injury and fatality cases in 2023, with 43 deaths.
Top five incidents by year…
- In 2017, contact with object or equipment accounted for 57% of injuries or death, falls, slips and trips accounted for 28%, overexertion and bodily reaction comprised 6%, while exposure to harmful substances and transportation incidents made up 4% and 3%, respectively.
- In 2018, contact with object or equipment accounted for 62% of injuries or death, falls, slips and trips accounted for 25%, overexertion and bodily reaction comprised 5%, while exposure to harmful substances and transportation incidents made up 4% and 3%, respectively.
- In 2019, contact with object or equipment accounted for 58% of injuries or death, falls, slips and trips accounted for 27%, overexertion and bodily reaction comprised 5%, while exposure to harmful substances and transportation incidents made up 5% and 4%, respectively.
- In 2020, contact with object or equipment accounted for 53% of injuries or death, falls, slips and trips accounted for 31%, overexertion and bodily reaction comprised 4%, while exposure to harmful substances and transportation incidents made up 5% and 4%, respectively.
- In 2021, contact with object or equipment accounted for 52% of injuries or death, falls, slips and trips accounted for 30%, overexertion and bodily reaction comprised 4%, while exposure to harmful substances and transportation incidents made up 5% and 6%, respectively.
- In 2022, contact with object or equipment accounted for 53% of injuries or death, falls, slips and trips accounted for 26%, overexertion and bodily reaction comprised 8%, while exposure to harmful substances and transportation incidents made up 4% and 8%, respectively.
- In 2023, contact with object or equipment accounted for 43% of injuries or death, falls, slips and trips accounted for 31%, overexertion and bodily reaction comprised 7%, while exposure to harmful substances and transportation incidents made up 7% and 11%, respectively.
The workers' compensation insurance market in the U.S. is projected to reach $56.7 billion in 2025, according to IBIS world. Between 2019 and 2024, the industry declined at a compound annual growth rate of 1.6 %.
© Arc, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to TMSalesOperations@arc-network.com. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.