Although fewer workplace injuries are being reported, the cost of those incidents is rising, according to a June 3 report from workers’ compensation insurer Travelers. The firm attributes the upward cost trend to demographic shifts within the workforce, including delayed retirements, frequent job changes and longer recovery periods after injury.

Rich Ives, senior vice president of business insurance claims at Travelers, pointed to three main cost drivers that have emerged in recent years: “Increasing retirement ages, ongoing employee turnover and longer injury recovery times,” he said in a statement.

Travelers’ analysis compared two five-year periods — 2015 to 2019 and 2020 to 2024 — and examined more than 2.6 million claims over the past decade. Despite a drop in overall injuries, the average number of workdays missed per injury rose to 80 in the most recent period, more than seven days higher than the previous timeframe.

To help mitigate these risks, the report emphasizes that employers should concentrate on three areas: strong onboarding and training processes, fostering a culture of safety, and managing incidents effectively. This includes introducing new employees to safe work practices and making sure returning or transitioning workers receive hands-on, skills-based training.

“Gives employees tactical knowledge and cultural awareness of why safe practices are important,” Travelers said, referencing the benefit of combining skills- and awareness-based safety instruction.

Travelers also highlighted that first-year employees are at particular risk. In fact, workers during their initial year accounted for 36% of all injury claims from 2020 to 2024, up from 34% in the earlier period. The company also noted an uptick in claims filed by workers over age 50 — a group that tends to file fewer claims but faces longer recovery times and higher costs. “This trend is significant because older employees — while typically injured less frequently than their younger counterparts — tend to require longer recovery times and have more costly claims,” the report noted.

Other safety challenges are tied to broader workplace dynamics. A 2022 Axonify report cited in the story revealed an increase in customer hostility, prompting experts to urge businesses to implement protocols that protect workers from escalating levels of verbal abuse and physical threats.

Meanwhile, the National Safety Council (NSC) released a 2024 report underscoring the importance of tailoring workplace safety programs to individual employee needs. The group highlighted issues like ill-fitting personal protective equipment, which is often designed for the average White male. Ill-fitting gear can lead to increased injuries among women, transgender and nonbinary workers, the NSC said.

Inclusion also plays a critical role in workplace safety. The NSC noted that Black and Hispanic workers were less likely to report unsafe conditions, and emphasized that employers must cultivate environments where all employees feel empowered to speak up.

Originally reported by Laurel Kalser in Construction Dive.