Let’s make one thing clear: workplace safety is no laughing matter. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employers in the country reported 2.6 million injuries and illness cases in 2021. This means there are real consequences of workplaces ignoring procedures and precautions that save their workers from hazardous environments.
However, we have accumulated some fun safety facts that are not only informative but entertaining as well. Hopefully, these nuggets of information will help you understand the true importance of safety in workplaces. Let’s jump in.
Safety Facts That Will Shock You
Did you know workplaces are often more dangerous than deep oceans? Here are some other ‘fun’ facts and some not-so-fun realities about the dangers many workers face every day.
Safety signs are perhaps the most cost-effective investment in workplace safety. Simply putting up these signs across the workplace and construction sites reduces the risk of accidents by 80 percent. It turns out that human beings need to be reminded about the potential dangers they might face. Fascinating.
In 2014, the University of Tennessee conducted an analysis of workplace injury and illness data to assess the impact of the OSHA 10-hour training course. The study found that after completing the training, the average injury and illness fell by 18.5%. Meanwhile, the total number of workdays lost due to workplace incidents declined by 25.6%. This came as a surprise to absolutely no one.
In the United States, 13 workers die on their jobs every day. The fatalities include truck drivers, construction workers, and those who work in the manufacturing industry. Compared to this, there are 11 deaths in the country per day related to drowning. So, to get this thing straight, workplaces are often more dangerous than deep waters. How is that for the safety fact of the day?
According to OSHA, 1970 wasn’t just the year where Simon and Garfunkel were releasing their big hits, it was also the year where a record number of people were losing their lives at their workplaces. One can guess bell bottom pants and mullets were more popular this year than hard hats, safety gloves and reflective clothing.
In the United States, it is estimated that workplace injuries and illnesses cost $250 billion annually. To grasp the enormity of this figure, consider that there are 143 countries globally with GDPs lower than this staggering sum. This means that if we can reduce these accidents, we would have enough money to create a country from scratch. We can call it ‘Safetyland,’ where everyone is safe at their workplace.
Being a musician is not as safe as you might have imagined. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics have reported that 50 to 76 percent of professional musicians have sustained musculoskeletal injuries. Turns out, overuse of limbs and consent to loud music can take a toll on a human body. So while the chances of an odd piano falling on you are minimal, musical instruments can be dangerous.
Fun safety fact: OSHA had one inspector for every 83,207 employees in 2019. The organization is ridiculously understaffed, which means that if it were to inspect all workplaces in the state of Arkansas, it would take more than three centuries to complete the task. However, the good news is that OSHA can inspect all workplaces in Arizona in just 258 years.
A recent study has found that anyone who is driving after a night of 4 or 5 hours of sleep, is as likely to make a fatal mistake as someone who is intoxicated. So sleepless nights put a person at the same risk as drinking but without any gratification.
According to the CDC, 7000 or 8000 Americans are bitten by snakes every year. While those reptilian creatures are extremely dangerous, the serious injuries caused by forklift stand at 35000 per year according to OSHA. This makes these dorky machines more dangerous than slithering reptiles with poisonous fangs. The facts about health and safety can often be astonishing.
Statistics That Will Alarm You
Costa Rica has the highest rate of work-related injuries in the world. Argentina, the second-highest, has 3,587 per 100,000 workers.
Costa Rica also leads in fatal workplace accidents. Argentina follows with 3.3 deaths per 100,000 workers, making Costa Rica nearly three times as dangerous.
Carpenters have the safest construction jobs, experiencing the lowest fatality rate among construction workers.
The annual cost of workplace injuries due to overexertion, primarily from lifting heavy objects without proper equipment.
The cost of workplace injuries from falls on the same level, often caused by slippery surfaces.
The cost of injuries from falls to lower levels, such as falls from ladders or elevated surfaces.
These numbers highlight the importance of workplace safety and the need for better protective measures across industries.
Start Your Journey Towards Safety
While it is great to make safety fun, it shouldn’t be taken lightly. Workplace safety is literally a matter of life and death. The purpose of these safety fun facts is to bring awareness to this critical issue. So if you don’t want to become a number in these statistics, you shouldn’t delay enrolling in OSHA safety training.
OSHA Education School is committed to making factories, construction sites, warehouses and other environments safer. We offer courses like OSHA 10-Hour Construction and OSHA 30-Hour Construction at cost-efficient prices for workers and businesses that wish to minimize accidents at workplaces.
Sources:
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Inforgram, University of Tennessee, OSHA, CDC, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Statista, DovePress, OSHA.Gov ILOSTAT, BLS 2019, Liberty Mutual