In the 2008 April issue of Facility Safety Management there is an article titled “Disabling Workplace Injuries Cost Industry $49 Billion in 2008“.  Produced annually, the Workplace Safety Index identifies the most disabling U.S. workplace injuries based on data reported from 1998 through the most recent year 2006.  Please see the charts below that reference the top five disabling injuries, what these injuries cost businesses and the national burden they cause.  The remaining five categories not included accounted for less than 20 percent of the direct cost of all the categories combined.

As you can see from these charts and information gathered for the Workplace Safety Index, falls on the same level can be very costly to both the economy and businesses.  Between 1998 and 2006, the costs of fall on same level and fall to lower level each showed increases of 17.9 percent.

At a time when uncertainty is the basis of the economy most businesses can’t afford to lose billions of dollars to one of these injuries.  Prevention is key to protecting your assets and employees.  An investment to install non slip flooring or other safety measures may seem expensive right now but ten years down the road the benefits will show.

“Disabling Workplace Injuries Cost Industry $49 Billion in 2008″ Facility Safety Management. Apr. 2009: 6-9.

Filed under: Safety Tips, Workplace Safety by Beth Faraci Social tagging: business safety records > safety trends > Workplace Safety