You’re safer at work!

A new study by the National Safety Council (NSC) shows that workers today are safer on the job than they are at home or in their communities. Although workplace death rates have declined 17 percent since 1992, deaths off the job have climbed 14 percent in that same period. The result is that although American business has made great gains in workplace safety, it is losing money on accidents that occur off the clock.

The study findings include:
• Twice as many workers (6.8 million) were seriously injured while off the job than were injured while working

• Of the 49,000 injury-related deaths in 2004 involving workers, 90 percent occurred off the clock

• In 2004, off-the-job injuries cost employers 165 million days of production time, compared with 80 million lost workdays as a result of workplace injuries.

• Off-the-clock employee injuries cost $194 billion in 2004, compared to $142 billion for workplace injuries

These frightening statistics are leading businesses to begin implementing off-the-job safety training programs for employees. The results are encouraging; of companies with such programs, 58 percent report reductions in injuries occurring outside of work.

The NSC’s Off-The-Job Safety Program Manual 2nd Edition shows employers how to collect data and measure off-the-job safety costs, outlines the elements of a successful program and more. A companion CD includes tools to establish an off-the-job safety program in your company. The manual and CD set are available for $34.47for NSC members; $49.95 for nonmembers at the Web site: www.nsc.org/news/nr020606.htm.

This article appeared in the April/May 2006 issue of MRO Today magazine. Copyright, 2006.

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