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SALT LAKE CITY — When a workplace injury occurs, actual injury costs are often between five to 50 times the size of the obvious direct costs of medical expenses and salary for the injured worker. Indirect costs include money spent on things such as repairing damaged equipment, time and money spent on hiring and training replacement personnel as well as lost productivity and quality because less experienced employees replace key injured employees.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, all direct and indirect costs associated with occupational injuries can comprise as much as 5 percent of a company's total costs.
“Preventing workplace accidents and injuries, aside from being the right thing to do, can save companies thousands of dollars on their insurance premiums and keep companies functioning at full capacity," said Workers Compensation Fund CEO and President, Ray Pickup. “Workplace safety must become a priority for every company.”
With June as national safety month, it’s a great time for employers and employees to review how to make their workplace safer. Your organization can start by focusing on systems and processes that have the greatest potential to cause injury as well as the most common injury types. Workers Compensation Fund 2013 Utah claims data shows:
Eight Most Common Claims from 2013
- Slip and Falls: 20%
- Cut: 17%
- Hit Against an Object: 16%
- Strain by Lifting: 12%
- General Strain: 12%
- Caught in Object 5%
- Burn 2%
- Motor Vehicle 2% Average Claims Cost from 20131. Motor Vehicle: $35,328
- Slip and Fall: $9,805
- Caught in Object: $8,066
- Strain by Lifting:: $4,497
- General Strains: $4,074
- Hit Against an Object: $3,905
- Burn: $1,927
- Cut: $1,278 Utah Workplace Safety Week Employers and employees are also being encouraged to further focus on safety during Utah Workplace Safety Week. In the 2014 Legislative Session, Senator Karen Mayne passed legislation to recognize Utah Workplace Safety Week as the fourth week of June. This year, Utah Safety Week will be from June 23-27.
There will be a kick-off for Utah Workplace Safety Week on June 23 at the Utah State Capitol. At the event, a number of companies and organizations (Utah Labor Commission, UTA, Utah Safety Council and others) will gather to participate in the world's largest proper-lifting safety demonstration. All organizations and individuals are invited to participate.
“I would like to invite employers and workers to join me in celebrating workplace safety during Utah Workplace Safety Week,” said Senator Karen Mayne. “I also extend a specific invite to the capitol on June 23 to begin the week by setting a world-record for the largest safety demonstration. This event will draw attention to Utah’s dedication to keep workers safe.”
The event will take place at the Capitol Rotunda on June 23 and at 11 a.m., remarks will be given by Senator Karen Mayne and Lieutenant Governor Spencer Cox. At 11:30 a.m., there will be an overview of the "Four Steps of Proper Lifting." The World's largest safety demonstration will take place at 11:45 a.m. Participants are asked to wear orange. The event will end at 12 p.m. with lunch. Food trucks will be available on site.
To learn more and find additional safety events around the state, click here.
Rachel Lewis is the communications director at Workers Compensation Fund and has a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Utah. Rachel has been contributing to KSL.com as a business writer since 2012.
