Report Reveals Most Expensive Workplace Injuries

 

The 2014 edition of Injury Facts®, a comprehensive publication from the National Safety Council, details safety statistics and trends across the U.S. and worldwide.  

 

Among the more surprising statistics in the 2014 edition:  

• In 2011, 542 contractors died from work-related injuries. The most dangerous industry for contractors isn't construction, which marked 115 deaths in 2011, but government, which lost 122 contractors in that same year.
• In 2012, fatal and nonfatal unintentional injuries that were work-related cost nearly $198.2 billion. Out of that, $175.6 billion was due to incident in the workplace and $22.6 billion was due to motor vehicle-related incidents.
• The most costly lost-time workers' compensation claims are those involving injuries to the head or central nervous system.
• Poisonings, including those from unintentional opioid prescription painkiller overdoses, were the leading cause of death in 18 states and Washington, D.C.
• Cell phone use is now estimated to be involved in 26 percent of all motor vehicle crashes - up from the previous year.
• An estimated 5 percent of crashes involve texting, while 21 percent involve drivers talking on handheld or hands-free cell phones.
• Unintentional injuries cost more than $790 billion annually.

 

A free recording of a webinar addressing highlights from the 2014 edition of Injury Facts is available, and the entire book and CD can be purchased at shop.nsc.org.