Workplace injuries and illnesses have a tremendous impact on the bottom line for employers.

According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), "It has been estimated that employers pay almost $1 billion per week for direct workers' compensation costs alone. The costs of workplace injuries and illnesses include direct and indirect costs. Direct costs include workers' compensation payments, medical expenses, and costs for legal services. Examples of indirect costs include training replacement employees, accident investigation and implementation of corrective measures, lost productivity, repairs of damaged equipment and property, and costs associated with lower employee morale and absenteeism." 

The 2016 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index shares that the most disabling, nonfatal workplace injuries amounted to nearly $62 billion in direct U.S. workers compensation costs. That is more than a billion dollars a week, confirming OSHA's estimates. 

In the recently published Index, which helps identify risk areas so that businesses can better allocate safety resources, the top 10 causes of serious, nonfatal workplace injuries and their direct costs to US businesses are included (in billions):

1. Overexertion involving outside source -- $15.08
2. Falls on same level -- $10.17
3. Falls to lower level -- $5.40
4. Struck by object or equipment -- $5.31
5. Other exertions or body reactions -- $4.15
6. Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicle -- $2.96
7. Slip or trip without fall -- $2.35
8. Caught in compressed by equipment or objects -- $1.97
9. Struck against object or equipment -- $1.85
10. Repetitive motions involving micro-tasks -- $1.82 

At Arbill, we invest our expertise to help organizations keep workers safe. As a company dedicated to worker protection, we see the probability for the most disabling workplace inju­ries and illnesses... and we focus on preventing them.  

Injuries and illnesses in the workplace weigh heavily on workers and their families, employers and everyone involved in the process. These injuries and illnesses often bring hardship and suffering, down time and costs. We know from published statistics that more than three million workers are injured seriously each year. For many of these workers, the injuries are devastating physically and financially. 

Employers are failing to prevent millions of work injuries and illnesses each year. By doing so, they are failing to fully protect their employees. They are failing to adequately train them and give them the personal protective equipment (PPE) they need to be productive and safe. And as OSHA reports, a reduction in the number of work injuries and illnesses would also have a great impact on healthcare system costs, reducing expenditures for hospitalizations and other medical care. 

At Arbill, we envision a future in which every worker makes it home safely, every day. Working together, we WILL reduce injuries in the workplace. That's our mission. That's how we can help organizations combat the rising costs of injuries... and, most importantly, protect their workers. 

Proper training along with appropriate safety products can significantly reduce if not eliminate these injuries along with the cost burden associated. Let Arbill help you reach your goal of "0" injuries this year while growing a culture of safety within your organization. Contact your Arbill representative today to schedule your safety audit.  Visit arbill.com for more information and subscribe to the Arbill Safety Blog so that you never miss out on great safety tips and information. 

Have a safe day!

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