Study methodology: the Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index is based on information from Liberty Mutual, customized data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Office of Safety, Health, and Working Conditions, and the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI). BLS nonfatal injury data are analyzed with the Liberty Mutual data to determine which events caused employees to miss more than five days of work, and then to rank those events by workers compensation costs, which are then scaled to the NASI total cost. To capture accurate injury cost data, each index is based on data three years prior. Accordingly, the 2023 Index reflects 2020 data.
The steps you take today can help build a more successful future for your business.
You can create safer workplaces that help protect your employees — and your bottom line. It all starts with the right partnership. Ask your insurance broker and carrier for guidance on how to identify and help mitigate workplace risks.
With you. All the way.
Zoom in on workplace injuries
As exposure to other harmful substances and pedestrian vehicular incidents joined the index, other historical causes of loss fell from the top 10.
The Workplace Safety Index:
injury rankings by type, 2018 to 2023
Pedestrian vehicular incidents were most evident in occupations such as sales and truck drivers, material movers, food service, distribution managers, retail salespersons, building cleaning and maintenance, and protective service. These occupations were likely to be impacted by the challenges that COVID-19 placed on the U.S. supply chain, as well as on industrial hygiene, security, and novel delivery or parking-lot operations.
Pedestrian vehicular incidents made its debut in the 2023 WSI, costing U.S. businesses $1.61B.
Falls to lower level moved up from fourth to third place, costing U.S. businesses $6.09B.
Moving up to sixth place is exposure to other harmful substances. Without COVID-19 data, our 2022 WSI ranked this injury in 18th place.
How has the WSI changed over time?
We've analyzed data trends from the past five WSIs. While overexertion, slips, trips, and falls are still leading causes of workplace injuries, some 2023 trends may surprise you. Exposure to other harmful substances and pedestrian vehicular accidents joined the index for the first time in 2023.
Analysis: WSI rankings over time
Download brochure
2023 WSI total cost of workplace injuries
$58.61B
2023 WSI Top 10 total
$48.15B
Pedestrian
vehicular incidents
10
Cost per year: $1.61B
Watch for
rushed behaviors
Does scheduling allow employees to complete scheduled tasks without rushing?
Watch for
rushed behaviors
Slip or trip
without fall
9
Cost per year: $1.92B
Watch for slippery
or uneven walkways
Are weather-related hazards promptly addressed, and are walkways maintained?
Watch for slippery
or uneven walkways
Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects
(running equipment or machines)
8
Cost per year: $1.98B
Watch for moving or rotating machinery
Are all shifts properly scheduled, staffed, supervised, and equipped?
Watch for moving or rotating machinery
Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles
(vehicle crashes)
7
Cost per year: $2.58B
Watch for
distracted drivers
Do policies exist that encourage safer driving practices?
Watch for distracted drivers
Exposure to other
harmful substances
6
Cost per year: $3.35B
Watch for close quarters at work
Have steps been taken to mitigate the spread of communicable diseases?
Watch for close quarters at work
Other exertions or bodily reactions
(awkward postures)
5
Cost per year: $3.67B
Watch for stepping down from a vehicle
Are ergonomic measures implemented wherever possible?
Watch for stepping down from a vehicle
Struck by
object or equipment
4
Cost per year: $5.14B
Watch for
unsecured tools,
racks, and product
Are processes in place for functional and safe storage of workplace supplies?
Watch for unsecured tools, racks and product
Falls to
lower level
3
Cost per year: $6.09B
Watch for
wobbly ladders
Is your workplace designed to minimize the use of ladders unless absolutely necessary?
Watch for wobbly ladders
Falls on
same level
2
Cost per year: $8.98B
Watch for wet floors
Are housekeeping and maintenance activities adequately monitored and consistently completed?
Watch for wet floors
Overexertion involving outside sources
1
Cost per year: $12.84B
Watch for heavy loads
Do workers have access to equipment that reduces the need to lift heavy items?
Watch for heavy loads
That's more than $58 billion per year, with the vast majority caused by just 10 common injuries.
Workplace injuries cost U.S. businesses more than $1 billion per week.
Did you know?
The 2023 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index (WSI) examines the top 10 causes of the most serious disabling workplace injuries – those leading to more than five missed workdays – ranked by their direct cost to employers based on medical expenses and lost wages.
Here’s this year’s ranking, along with conversation starters for each item that you can discuss with a risk control consultant.
We can create safer workplaces.
Together.
Study methodology: the Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index is based on information from Liberty Mutual, customized data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Office of Safety, Health, and Working Conditions, and the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI). BLS nonfatal injury data are analyzed with the Liberty Mutual data to determine which events caused employees to miss more than five days of work, and then to rank those events by workers compensation costs, which are then scaled to the NASI total cost. To capture accurate injury cost data, each index is based on data three years prior. Accordingly, the 2023 Index reflects 2020 data.
The steps you take today can help build a more successful future for your business.
You can create safer workplaces that help protect your employees — and your bottom line. It all starts with the right partnership. Ask your insurance broker and carrier for guidance on how to identify and help mitigate workplace risks.
With you. All the way.
As exposure to other harmful substances and pedestrian vehicular incidents joined the index, other historical causes of loss fell from the top 10.
The Workplace Safety Index:
injury rankings by type, 2018 to 2023
Pedestrian vehicular incidents were most evident in occupations such as sales and truck drivers, material movers, food service, distribution managers, retail salespersons, building cleaning and maintenance, and protective service. These occupations were likely to be impacted by the challenges that COVID-19 placed on the U.S. supply chain, as well as on industrial hygiene, security, and novel delivery or parking-lot operations.
Pedestrian vehicular incidents made its debut in the 2023 WSI, costing U.S. businesses $1.61B.
Falls to lower level moved up from fourth to third place, costing U.S. businesses $6.09B.
Moving up to sixth place is exposure to other harmful substances. Without COVID-19 data, our 2022 WSI ranked this injury in 18th place.
How has the WSI changed over time?
We've analyzed data trends from the past five WSIs. While overexertion, slips, trips, and falls are still leading causes of workplace injuries, some 2023 trends may surprise you. Exposure to other harmful substances and pedestrian vehicular accidents joined the index for the first time in 2023.
Analysis
WSI rankings over time
Download brochure
2023 WSI total cost of workplace injuries
$58.61B
2023 WSI Top 10 total
$48.15B
Does scheduling allow employees to complete scheduled tasks without rushing?
Watch for
rushed behaviors
Pedestrian
vehicular incidents
10
Cost per year: $1.61B
Are weather-related hazards promptly addressed, and are walkways maintained?
Watch for slippery
or uneven walkways
Slip or trip
without fall
9
Cost per year: $1.92B
Are all shifts properly scheduled, staffed, supervised, and equipped?
Watch for moving or rotating machinery
Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects
(running equipment or machines)
8
Cost per year: $1.98B
Do policies exist that encourage safer driving practices?
Watch for distracted drivers
Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles
(vehicle crashes)
7
Cost per year: $2.58B
Have steps been taken to mitigate the spread of communicable diseases?
Watch for close quarters at work
Exposure to other
harmful substances
6
Cost per year: $3.35B
Are ergonomic measures implemented wherever possible?
Watch for stepping down from a vehicle
Other exertions or bodily reactions
(awkward postures)
5
Cost per year: $3.67B
Are processes in place for functional and safe storage of workplace supplies?
Watch for unsecured tools, racks and product
Struck by
object or equipment
4
Cost per year: $5.14B
Is your workplace designed to minimize the use of ladders unless absolutely necessary?
Watch for wobbly ladders
Falls to
lower level
3
Cost per year: $6.09B
Are housekeeping and maintenance activities adequately monitored and consistently completed?
Watch for wet floors
Falls on
same level
2
Cost per year: $8.98B
Do workers have access to equipment that reduces the need to lift heavy items?
Watch for heavy loads
Overexertion involving outside sources
1
Cost per year: $12.84B
See rankings over time
View Top
ten risks
The 2023 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index (WSI) examines the top 10 causes of the most serious disabling workplace injuries – those leading to more than five missed workdays – ranked by their direct cost to employers based on medical expenses and lost wages.
Here’s this year’s ranking, along with conversation starters for each item that you can discuss with a risk control consultant.
That's more than $58 billion per year, with the vast majority caused by just 10 common injuries.
Workplace injuries cost U.S. businesses more than $1 billion per week.
Did you know?
We can create safer workplaces.
Together.
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