Claims Analysis Puts Spotlight on Injury Trends

Ives: Regardless of the job, those who are newer in their roles are among the most vulnerable to injury. This is a continuing trend that we see in our data; the enhanced susceptibility to injury includes those who are starting similar roles to previous ones and employees who are taking on different positions within their same company. There are many factors that can contribute to this increased risk, such as adapting to new policies and procedures, a new corporate culture or a new manager. 

Wengert: When broken down by industry, our data shows that some industries are particularly affected by new-employee injuries, including construction. In this year’s analysis, we found that 44% of all construction injuries involved first-year employees, and these drove almost half (48%)of all construction workers compensation claim costs.

Q: What are the common causes of injury to first-year construction employees?

Ives: The most common causes of workplace injuries among first-year construction employees are slips, trips, and falls (48%); being struck by an object (16%); overexertion (12%); caught-in or caught-between hazards (6%); and cuts and punctures (4%).

Q: What safety practices can be implemented to help reduce first-year injuries?

Wengert: When we talk to our customers about safety best practices, we stress that the process begins before a new employee is hired. For instance, it’s important to start with a clear job description that conveys an organization’s safety culture and expectations so that you’re attracting the right candidates. Use behavioral interviewing techniques to help ensure that candidates have the right experience and training. For example, in order to get a better sense of a candidate’s experience and focus on safety, a contractor might want to ask a potential hire to talk through the steps that they would take before operating a piece of equipment or machine on a construction site. 

Once an employee is hired, begin onboarding and training on day one, including orienting them to their job, their crew and assigned tasks, and any tools or machinery they’ll be using. In addition, it’s important to review the organization’s safety expectations and procedures, including how to report an injury or an unsafe condition.

See “5 Innovations Impacting Construction Job Site Safety.”

On-the-job safety training includes both skills- and awareness-based training to give employees technical knowledge and cultural awareness of why safety practices are important. Skills-based training shows the actual hands-on procedures of a task, such as driving, while awareness-based training includes general policies, hazard recognition and expectations for maintaining a safe and healthy work environment.

And because employees are still at risk for injuries at work after their first year on the job, it is important to continue these safety training programs and practices, to encourage employees at all levels to get involved with safety initiatives, and to model the right behaviors and provide real-time feedback.

Q: How many workdays per injury are injured employees missing?

Ives: Across all industries included in the analysis, employees missed an average of 72 workdays per injury, up one day from last year. The construction industry continued to have the highest average number of lost workdays per injury (103 workdays, up from 99), followed by transportation (83 workdays, up from 77).

 Lost time due to an injury can have significant impacts for the injured employee, their co-workers and the business—not just from the cost of a workplace injury, but due to the loss of productivity and knowledge. Extended breaks from work are also associated with negative health consequences, including poor health outcomes, increased risk of mental health conditions, and decreased life expectancy.

Time out of work impacts the overall severity of an injury. Plus, if employees don’t return to work at all after their injuries, the cost goes up exponentially.

Wengert: That’s why it’s so important for contractors to have a response plan in place in case an employee is injured on the job. This includes assigning transitional duties and providing attentive case management so that the injured employee feels valued and productive.

Ives: We found that construction workers compensation claims were the most expensive—almost double the all-industries average. The most severe injuries in construction were amputations, cardiovascular injuries, electric shock, multiple traumas, head traumas, and dislocations. The most common causes of large losses—those costing $250,000 or more—among all construction workers were slips, trips, and falls, which include falls from heights; being struck by an object; overexertion; caught in or caught between hazards; and motor vehicle accidents.  

Wengert: Understanding causes of these severe accidents can help contractors improve their safety management practices. We encourage our customers to investigate accidents when they happen on their job sites so that they can identify root causes and devise appropriate corrective actions.

Q: What factor does age play in construction injuries?

Ives: Our data shows that although employees who are 60 and older are injured less often than those in other age groups, their injuries tend to be more severe when they do occur. There are many reasons why this can be the case, such as the increased presence of comorbidities or longer and more challenging recovery times. This is significant as we continue to see the aging of the workforce represented in our data of workplace injuries. 

Wengert: In construction, we’re talking about work that can be physically demanding for employees of any age. Strains and sprains are not uncommon. Although every person is different, workplace risks do change as we age. It’s important that contractors take this into consideration as they review their safety programs and monitor job sites.

Q: What can contractors do to help keep construction workers safe?

Wengert: Construction companies that prioritize a culture of safety and regularly communicate these values and best practices are the ones that tend to be most successful at keeping workers safe and preventing loss. This focus begins with top management, who lead by example, plan for the work ahead and hold workers accountable to established safety programs.

Some specific recommendations to consider:

• Implement an accident analysis program to identify root causes of injuries after accidents have occurred and make appropriate updates to training and workplace safety programs.
• Initiate a structured superintendent development program designed to provide workers with on-the-job training to prepare them to lead future construction projects, with a focus on safety.
• Develop a post-injury management process to highlight best practices for supervisors to respond immediately, and nonjudgmentally, when injuries take place.