The COVID-19 pandemic surfaced the need for rapid digital transformation in industries that are historically reliant on paper-based plans. Officials from OSHA have proposed that core industries will benefit from the smarter, faster insights available through digital safety management tools. However, no regulatory agency requires adoption of a specific type of safety management system.
While recordable workplace incidents have been on a steady decline, workplace fatalities and life-altering incidents have held relatively steady, with 4,764 fatal incidents recorded in 2020 and 4,690 recorded in 2010 (BLS).
To prevent lost time and catastrophic injuries, companies need an established safety program that not only adheres to OSHA guidelines but, in many industries, surpasses them. To implement their programs, employers leverage a combination of digital and paper-based systems.
While tools and technologies for worker productivity have advanced across many labor-intensive industries, the wider approach to worker safety hasn't.
So how should companies adjust their safety programs?
For this study, we asked 601 workers across the construction, industrial, manufacturing, and agriculture sectors to share their level of knowledge regarding their personal safety at work and their company’s safety practices in order to evaluate how digitization impacts safety programs in safety-critical workplaces.
of respondents say that their company enforces their safety/risk prevention program very strictly
rate their own compliance with their company's safety program as excellent
say they would like to receive better safety training on protocols related to their jobs
report that, on average, it takes one month or longer to resolve a safety hazard at their business
respondents have been pressured to work unsafely in order to complete work faster or to meet a tight deadline
those working in agriculture were 24% more likely than average to say they have been pressured to work unsafely
of employees surveyed said the most recent safety incident at their workplace was within the last month
reported that a worker was injured in the most recent incident
of respondents agreed that using mobile/tablet devices improves worker safety
agreed that using mobile/tablet devices decreases risky behavior
agreed that using mobile/tablet devices improves documentation
Digitization is important but remember—even with the most innovative tools available, a true safety culture requires top-down incentive structures and behavior shifts, so that the welfare of your employees is front-of-mind, regardless of macroeconomic conditions.
of respondents said that their company has an EAP
of respondents said their EAP is paper-based
of surveyed workers said that their emergency action plan is outdated
said that the plan would be cumbersome to access in the event of an actual emergency
Mobile Apps a Smart Solution for Emergency Preparedness
More frequent reviews and updates
For EAPs to be accessible from anywhere
Clearer assignment of roles and responsibilities
Business leaders and their brokers know that making the move to smartphones and tablets isn't a quick fix for risk management issues, so they often don’t take the leap. However, digitization is not only more effective long-term but it also opens up opportunities to improve every other business process touched by workplace safety.
In 2020, there was one worker death every 111 minutes. How many of the 4,764 lives could have been saved with greater visibility into the risks and the steps being taken to address them? It’s imperative that companies urgently prioritize digitization as a means of prevention in order to reduce or avoid catastrophic and/or fatal incidents.
Through digitization, companies can facilitate behavior change through ongoing engagement, ultimately creating safer work environments and more successful businesses.
"Many business leaders find it tough to change an established corporate culture once habits are formed," says Emilio Figueroa, Chief Insurance Officer, Foresight. "But this mindset limits understanding and accessibility."
In a time where work is increasingly dangerous and fewer workers are entering manual labor-based jobs, digital safety management is no longer a nice-to-have but table stakes for success. But this burden doesn't have to fall on the shoulders of business leadership alone.
"Business leaders and their brokers know that making the move to smartphones and tablets isn't a quick fix for risk management issues, so they often don’t take the leap,” says David Fontain. “However, digitization is not only more effective long-term but it also opens up opportunities to improve every other business process touched by workforce safety. By tying safe work practices to faster premium reduction, Foresight economizes risk management and breaks barriers to business growth."
Digitization isn’t about keeping up with the latest trends, it’s about proactively protecting your best and greatest resource — your employees.
Facilitating Risk Tech Adoption Across the Insurance Value Chain
Workers compensation providers have a vested interest in worker safety. While many carriers supply risk management materials and provide loss control services, few have an adequate understanding of how safety tech implementation (or lack thereof) impacts their policyholders. Insurance innovation will be a tipping point in higher safety technology adoption rates.
"All of our policyholders implement an easy-to-use risk management platform, Safesite, at a pace that makes sense for their business," says David Fontain, CEO of Foresight, a workers compensation insurtech startup. "They typically see improvements within six months, though many businesses report immediate improvements in field accountability, hazard identification, and communication. In just one year, our policyholders have reduced incident frequency by 31% on average."
By tying safe work practices to faster premium reduction, Foresight economizes risk management and breaks barriers to business growth.
There are myriad safety technologies available to business leaders today, from risk management platforms to wearable devices to smart tools and PPE. Companies must determine which tools are most effective for reducing the risks their workers face on the job. Then, they must ensure those technologies are rolled out to the workforce effectively.
We’ve been able to speed adoption by connecting clients with dedicated professionals that guide them through the rollout of their first digital safety program.
“Commercial insurance brokers frequently express a desire to streamline their clients’ safety programs,” says Peter Grant, CEO of Safesite, a widely adopted safety management platform and exclusive Foresight partner. “We’ve been able to speed adoption by connecting those clients with dedicated professionals that guide them through the rollout of their first digital safety program. Foresight then rewards engaged businesses with savings upon policy renewal, further incentivizing the proper use of Safesite in the field.”
The pandemic transformed worker expectations around health and safety, and for those that don’t digitize, there’s a lot on the line. But those that do will reap the benefits, including reduced incidents, higher worker retention, decreased costs, and most importantly — lives saved.
Survey Methodology
Foresight Group partnered with a third-party research provider to survey 601 workers across the construction, industrial, manufacturing, and agribusiness sectors. Respondents were concentrated in companies from 100-2500 employees with $500K-$15M in annual revenue.
Employees shared their level of knowledge regarding their personal safety at work and their company's safety practices. The survey was conducted at 95% confidence with a +/- 4% margin of error and saw representation from all 50 states.