Top 10 Causes of Most Serious Workplace Injuries
The annual Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index documents the top 10 causes of the most serious workplace injuries – those causing an employee to miss five or more days from work – and ranks them by their direct cost to employers, which consists of medical and lost-wage payments.
The insurer’s report also identifies the top causes of serious workplace injuries by key industries.
According to the 2019 Liberty Mutual index, the 10 most costly causes of workplace injuries and illnesses are:
The 2019 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index is the first to also report the causes and costs of the most serious workplace injuries for eight specific industries that account for a high proportion of all workplace injuries: Manufacturing, Healthcare, Construction, Professional Services, Retail, Wholesale, Transportation & Warehousing, Leisure & Hospitality.
The top causes by key industries:
James Merendino, general manager, Risk Control, National Insurance, Liberty Mutual, said the index helps employers understand the root causes of the most serious workplace injuries they face. “Only then can they effectively mitigate and manage these through work design, system controls, technology, training, and strategic risk management. Insurance companies and brokers can be a key ally in these efforts,” he said.
The annual Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index is based on information from Liberty Mutual, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Academy of Social Insurance. The 2019 index is based on non-fatal 2016 injury data, with more than five days away from work. To allow for cost development, every index has been based on claims data three years prior to publication.