October 4, 2004—In light of the recent release of the annual fatal occupational figures for 2003 by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) President Gene Barfield, CSP, first offered his condolences to the families, friends and co-workers of the 5,559 people who died from job-related injuries, and secondly, urged businesses to invest in workplace safety now to reduce the number of these tragic losses.
“Our members—occupational safety, health and environmental professionals in all industries work day in and day out to ensure that the many millions of people who go to work every day return home safely,” Barfield said. “We urge all businesses large and small to join us as we continue to identify risks at all workplaces, and develop and implement safety systems aimed at preventing fatalities, injuries and illness while on the job.”
It makes good business sense to protect people in the workplace. ASSE members note that preventing work-related injuries and illnesses cost far less than correcting them. Companies that invest consistently in safety realize positive bottom line results, reduced absenteeism, lower turnover rates, higher productivity, increased employee moral and a positive brand image. As illnesses, injuries and fatalities decline so to do health care and workers compensation costs.
Studies have shown that the indirect cost of a workplace accident can be up to 10 times that of the direct costs. For every $1 invested in an effective workplace safety program, $4 to $6 may be saved as illnesses, injuries and fatalities decline. Indirect costs include: training and compensating replacement workers; repairing damaged property; accident investigation and implementation of corrective action; scheduling delays and lost productivity; administrative expenses; low employee morale and increased absenteeism; and, poor customer and community relations.
Workplace injuries and illnesses are costly in financial and human terms. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III) the average cost for workers’ compensation insurance the insurance that provides for the cost of medical care and rehabilitation for injured workers, and, lost wages and death benefits for the dependents of persons killed in work-related accidents—has risen 50 percent in the last three years. According to the III over the last decade the average medical cost per claim has nearly doubled.
