Workplace Safety Insights & Recommendations From Employees
DO AMERICAN WORKERS FEEL SAFE?
We surveyed 2,000 full-time U.S. employees across a wide range of industries to understand how they feel about their physical safety and mental well-being at work. This year, we also compared the responses of managers and non-managers to discover how safety concerns change with seniority. Here’s what we learned.
Workers believe their employers prioritize productivity, profits, and reputation over employee safety.
79%
IMPORTANT TO YOU
61%
TO YOUR EMPLOYER
70%
IMPORTANT TO YOU
71%
TO YOUR EMPLOYER
55%
IMPORTANT TO YOU
77%
TO YOUR EMPLOYER
40%
IMPORTANT TO YOU
72%
TO YOUR EMPLOYER
Which of the following emergency scenarios have you experienced while working?
Employees face more emergencies at work than ever.
86% of employees have experienced an emergency at work, and 34% don’t feel prepared to navigate these incidents.
Maintaining a safe working environment is challenging when workplace hazards and on-site threats are rising. Use the actionable data in this report to prepare your employees to navigate a wide range of emergencies and critical events.
Managers are poised to champion workplace safety with the right support.
Managers have an opportunity to improve employee safety, but most managers are not set up with the right resources and training to do so.
Discover ways to support your managers and improve your safety procedures.
of managers say their employer has made more effort to ensure safety in the past year.
of managers know who to contact if they experienced an emergency at work.
of managers say they are limited in keeping their employees safe.
More employees feel like safety efforts are stagnating.
Employee concerns about emergencies are rising. Over the last three years, more employees feel that their employers’ safety efforts are slowing down.
55%
MORE OF AN EFFORT
45%
SAME OR LESS EFFORT
42%
MORE OF AN EFFORT
58%
SAME OR LESS EFFORT
40%
MORE OF AN EFFORT
60%
SAME OR LESS EFFORT
Employees want better communication from their employers.
The most requested and impactful ways a business can make its employees feel safer and more prepared include:
• Transparent communication
• Additional information on safety/healthcare resources
• Safety training programs
Which safety actions do you want your employer to do more of?
Key Takeaways
- 87% of employees are concerned about experiencing an emergency at work.
- 60% of respondents report their employers are making the same or less safety effort in the past year.
- 48% of managers say many safety decisions are outside of their control.
- 48% of employees would grade their employers’ focus on mental health a “C” or worse.
- 71% of employees whose organization has put less effort into safety in the past year report losing trust in their employer.
- 76% of employees think their employer’s safety communication needs improvement.
Navigate the Shifting Landscape of Employee Safety
FAQ
- Why is employee safety so important?
The core goal of an employee safety and health program is to prevent work-related injuries, accidents, and fatalities. Investing in employee safety will lower costs due to legal liabilities and workers‘ compensation claims, fulfill your legal obligations, improve employee morale, and ensure your business is more resilient overall.
- How can employers protect their employees at work?
Keeping employees safe at work comes down to informing and alerting them to hazards and providing the training and resources to stay safe. Workplace injuries aren’t always avoidable, but by establishing a positive safety culture, you can improve working conditions and empower employees to play an active role in their safety.
- What is the General Duty Clause?
The General Duty Clause, commonly referred to as employers’ “duty of care,” pertains to OSHA-mandated workplace safety requirements. This clause states that every business has an ethical, moral, and legal obligation to protect its employees from harm while working.
- What is the main goal of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration?
OSHA was founded in 1970 by the Occupational Safety and Health Act to protect worker safety and ensure a healthy work environment for everyone. OSHA focuses on creating health standards for business and employee actions and performs inspections to make sure businesses are complying with those standards.
- What are some things that put employee safety at risk?
Different industries face vastly different safety issues, but here are a few common or high-risk unsafe working conditions and safety hazards that your employees might face:
- Lack of or improper safety equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Transportation/travel accidents
- Improper use of heavy machinery (like forklifts)
- External threats (like severe weather or natural disasters)
- Workplace violence (like an active shooter event)
Performing a risk assessment is a great way to determine what specific risks your employees will face at work. You can also look at common OSHA violations to get an idea of the most frequently cited issues.
- What is employee safety monitoring?
Employee safety monitoring is a safety solution that utilizes live location data and/or a panic button system to monitor and protect employees who may be in harm’s way during a job or task. Employee safety monitoring is a great supplement to safety training such as first-aid and situational awareness.
- What technology is available to support employee safety?
There are lots of technology options that can support a larger safety management system and help businesses protect their employees. Threat intelligence systems, employee safety monitoring, business travel risk management, and emergency communication systems are all tools that can reinforce your safety program. Technology can support informed decision-making and timely action to ensure your employees’ safety.
- What are some additional employee safety tips and resources?
You can find many resources and workplace safety tips for improving your employee safety program here at AlertMedia. Check out The Employee Safety Podcast to hear advice and stories from experts and safety leaders doing this work every day.
You can also download checklists, templates, and guides that can support your employee safety efforts. Here are a few to get you started:
The Future of Work Depends on the Safety of Employees.
