MoreEmployers spend an average of $280 per employee a year — equating to $38 billion for the U.S. workforce — for injuries suffered at home, according to a new study released by the Home Safety Council.
Health insurance, life insurance, sick leave and disability as well as the cost of hiring and training new employees all go into the cost. The study found that an injury that results in a hospital stay costs nearly $20,000, and a fatal injury costs an employer nearly $30,000.
Specific employer costs associated with what researchers call a public health issue include:
- Employer healthcare (medical) spending costs $15.8 billion in a single year.
- $11.8 billion was spent on sick leave and disability insurance.
- $9.6 billion was spent on costs related to disruption and efforts for training/retraining or hiring new employees.
"The enormous cost of unintentional home injuries may surprise U.S. employers," says Meri-K Appy, president of the Home Safety Council. "Home injuries affect worker morale as well as the company's bottom line. By arming the workforce with guidance and information to reduce preventable injuries at home, companies protect their most valued resource: their employees."
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