Workplace Fatalities Are Falling, But Transportation and Equipment Risks Still Loom Large

What Every Business Should Rethink About Serious Injury Prevention

There’s some good news on the workplace safety front: According to a seven-year study by ISN, serious injuries and fatalities (SIFs) dropped 16% in 2023 compared to the year before, marking the lowest total since 2017. That’s a promising sign for business owners and safety professionals working hard to build a culture of prevention.

But the study also signals a shift in where the most severe risks lie. While traditional job site dangers like contact with equipment remain a leading cause, transportation incidents have now overtaken all others as the top cause of workplace fatalities, accounting for 43% of fatal cases in 2023.

As Marie Anderson, Chief Customer Success Officer at ISN, puts it:

“A strong safety culture is the foundation of an effective safety program, and organizations need reliable insights to drive meaningful change.”

If you’re a business owner, especially in industries like construction, logistics, or field services, it’s time to take a closer look at how your company is managing its most serious risks.

5 Tactics to Reduce Serious Workplace Injuries

1. Prioritize Transportation Safety, Even for Non-Fleet Businesses

With transportation-related deaths on the rise, it’s no longer just a concern for trucking companies. Any business with employees on the road needs a clear vehicle safety policy:

• Enforce defensive driving training
• Require routine maintenance checks
• Monitor driving behavior using telematics or GPS tools
• Institute fatigue management policies for long-haul or frequent drivers

2. Invest in Equipment, Safety Training and Inspections

Contact with equipment and objects continues to be a leading cause of serious injuries, accounting for 60% of all cases over the past decade. Consider:

• Weekly safety briefings around common job-site hazards
• Lockout/tagout training for equipment repairs
• Pre-shift safety walk-throughs to identify improperly stored tools or materials

3. Combat Fall Risks with Real-Time Visibility

Falls, slips, and trips remain the second most common cause of injury or death. While some fall risks are obvious (scaffolding, ladders), others are more insidious (wet floors, cluttered walkways). Tactics include:

• Designating “fall risk zones” with signage
• Requiring harnesses and proper PPE for all elevated work
• Using mobile safety checklists during site visits

4. Build a Culture That Encourages Reporting and Learning

Culture is the backbone of any effective safety program. If your employees don’t feel safe speaking up, small risks become serious threats. Here’s how to strengthen your safety culture:

• Lead by example: Management should follow all safety protocols
• Celebrate near-miss reporting as a learning opportunity
• Create anonymous channels for hazard reporting

5. Align Insurance with Actual Risk

With the workers’ compensation market projected to hit $56.7 billion by 2025, premiums are increasing, but so are exclusions and sublimits in coverage. To protect your business:

• Work with an experienced broker who understands industry-specific risks
• Review your coverage annually to ensure it reflects your current operations
• Ask your insurer if implementing risk mitigation strategies could lower your premiums

Why This Matters Now

The decline in SIFs is encouraging, but it’s not a reason to get comfortable. While overall incidents are down, the consequences of the incidents that do occur are rising. The shift toward transportation-related fatalities and serious equipment injuries should push business owners to think differently about risk.

If you’re serious about protecting your people and your bottom line, make sure safety isn’t a “once-a-year training” but a daily conversation. Safety risks are shifting and your strategy should too. Talk with OneDigital’s Property and Casualty team about evaluating transportation risk, job-site safety practices, and coverage alignment.