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The Travelers Insurance Company in its 2023 Injury Impact Report, examined more than 1.2 million workers’ compensation claims that were filed from 2016 to 2020.  

The findings showed that an employee’s time spent in a job plus age were prominent factors in injury frequency and cost.

Rich Ives, the Vice President of Business Insurance Claim at the Travelers, said the data highlights two populations.  They are new employees and aging employees.  “As employers navigate turnover and a multigenerational work force,” he said, “it’s important that they stay aware of the risks that come with changing worker demographics so they can help keep employees safe and businesses running.”  

Employees in their first years on a job, regardless of their age or industry experience, represented more than one-third of all claims ad accounted for almost seven million missed workdays due to injury.  Employees aged 60 years and older were injured less often than other age groups, but they had higher average costs per claim.  That totaled nearly 15% more than employees between the ages of 35 and 49, and about 140% more than those aged 18 to 24 years.

Other highlights from the report included:

• Strains and sprains accounted for the most injuries at 38%.  Fractures constituted 13%; contusions 8%; inflammation 7% and dislocations 7%.
  
• The most common causes of injury were overexertion at 29%; slips, trips, and falls at 23%; being struck by an object at 13%; motor vehicle accidents at 5%, and caught-in or caught-between hazards at 5%.

The costliest common claims were dislocations.  They came in at almost three times the average cost per claim.  Slips, trips, and falls were among the most common causes of injuries and cost 35% more than the average claim, closely followed by motor vehicle accidents at 33%.

On the average, workdays missed due to injury resulted in 71 missed workdays.

The construction industry had the highest average number of lost workdays per injury at 99 workdays.  Construction was followed by transportation at 77 workdays.

Injured employees from small businesses missed an average of 79 workdays.

Slips, trips, and falls caused employees to miss an average of 83 workdays, followed by motor vehicle accidents at 79 workdays, overexertion at 71 workdays, and being struck by an object at 67 workdays.  

As for the outliers, amputations led to some of the most expensive claims, costing almost five times the average, followed by electric shock and multiple trauma injuries, such as breaking multiple bones at once.  Together, these injuries accounted for slightly more than 1% of claims.

Vice President Rich Ives added, “After an injury, an employee’s road back to work can be difficult and the longer they remain out, the harder it can be for them to return.”  

It can be harder, he added, if an employee is dealing with a psychosocial barrier, such as fear or worry.  “That’s why a holistic approach to recovery is so critical, and why we recommend employers promptly file claims after an incident, so that injured workers can immediately receive the help they need.”  

From the Travelers’ news release, and the work of editor Lonce Lamonte of adjustercom.  lonce@adjustercom.com.