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2021 Workplace Safety Index shows top 10 causes of disabling injuries

Disabling injuries can occur on any job

Posted July 30, 2021

The top 10 most disabling workplace injuries cost employers more than $1 billion a week, according to the 2021 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index. Employers may consider conducting training or refresher training for employees based on the top 10 list, ergonomic assessments, and/or job hazard analyses to help mitigate the potential for injuries.

Injury

Annual Cost (billions $)

Handling objects

$13.30

Falls on the same level

$10.58

Falls to lower level

$6.26

Being hit by objects

$5.61

Awkward postures

$4.71

Vehicle crashes

$3.16

Slip or trip without fall

$2.52

Colliding with objects or equipment

$2.46

Caught in equipment or machines

$2.01

Repetitive motions involving microtasks

$1.66

The annual Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index is based on information from Liberty Mutual, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI).

Reproduced with permission from Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety. Source: www.libertymutualgroup.com/researchinstitute

This article was written by Rachel Krubsack of J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.

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