Insurance carrier Liberty Mutual has compiled public and proprietary statistics to develop the Top 10 causes of disabling injuries at work.
It’s main finding: Despite a drop in serious accidents of 1.5 percent in the past year, workplace injuries cost U.S. businesses more than $58 billion per year, up 3 percent from 2017.
The Top 10
- Overexertion is the top cause of workplace injuries, including injuries related to lifting, pushing, pulling, holding, carrying and throwing. These injuries cost businesses $13.7 billion per year. These account for roughly 23.4 percent of the total number of accidents.
- Falls on the same level, such as trips or slips, account for costs of $11.2 billion per year and are 19.2 percent of total accidents.
- Falls to a lower level cost $5.9 billion per year, or about 10 percent of the total.
- Being struck by equipment or other object costs $5.3 billion per year for about 9.1 percent of total accidents.
- Injuries from other exertions such as bending, reaching, twisting or climbing cost $4.2 billion – about 7.2 percent of the accidents.
- Roadway incidents involving vehicles accounts for $3.2 billion – about 5.5 percent.
- Slips or trips without falling or resisting a fall cost $2.3 billion, or 3.9 percent of the accident total.
- Getting caught in equipment such as gears or rollers costs $2.1 billion, or 3.6 percent of the total.
- Striking an object such as an open drawer while walking costs $2 billion, or 3.5 percent of the total.
- Repetitive motion injuries cost $1.5 billion, or 2.6 percent of the total.
The remaining causes cost U.S. businesses $20.3 billion per year.
To gather this information, Liberty Mutual used data from its own database, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Academy of Social Insurance. Researchers looked at Bureau of Labor Statistics data that showed how many employees missed work for six or more days, then ranked the events by total workers’ compensation costs.
Workplace accidents can cost you tens of thousands of dollars in hospital bills, physical therapy and lost wages as well as many other costs.
If you or a loved one have an accident in the workplace, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. Contact a qualified workers’ compensation attorney to be made aware of all your options.
