In early August, U.S. workers compensation insurance carrier The Travelers Companies released its Travelers 2024 Injury Impact Report — an analysis of more than 1.2 million workers compensation claims that the company received between 2017 and 2021.

The report identifies trends in compensation claims to keep businesses across all industries informed. According to the firm, this promotes awareness and can assist employers in creating training programs that keep employees safe and businesses running smoothly.

The report analyzed trends in specific industries — construction, wholesale and manufacturing — and among small businesses. The most common cause of large losses among all industries, according to Travelers, were:

• Slips, trips and falls caused by falls from heights, ladders, or scaffolding
• Overexertion due to lifting, twisting, pushing or pulling
• Being struck by an object that was falling or flying, a motor vehicle or objects that are lifted or handled
• Motor vehicle accident caused by a collision or sideswipe with another vehicle or overturned vehicles or collisions with a stagnant object
• Caught-in or caught-between hazards caused by being caught under, in or between machines, objects being handled or collapsing materials

Wholesale Injury Stats

More specifically, according to the company’s findings, the wholesale industry had an average of 71 days employees missed per workplace injury. The most common causes of injury across employees (by % of claims) include:

• Overexertion – 36%
• Slips, trips and falls – 19%
• Being struck by an object – 11%
• Caught-in or caught-between hazards – 6%
• Motor vehicle accident – 6%

Overexertion, slips, trips and falls, being struck by an object and motor vehicle accidents were the top drivers of severe claims, with the greatest impact on injured employees and a cost of $250,000 or more.

Motor vehicle accidents had the highest average cost per claim of the most common causes of injury, according to the report.

The report analyzed the common cause of injury across employees in the wholesale industry, and the most common injuries within the field, which include (by % of claim):

• Strains and sprains – 43%
• Fractures – 12%
• Contusions – 9%
• Dislocations – 7%
• Inflammation – 6%

Lower back injuries among employees in the wholesale industry were listed as the most common cause of injury; however, shoulder injuries — a close second — were the costliest of injuries.

Travelers Companies found that 35% of all wholesale injuries were reported by first-year employees. The most common causes of injury to first-year employees (by % of claims) include:

• Overexertion – 35%
• Slips, trips and falls – 18%
• Being struck by an object – 15%
• Caught-in or caught-between hazards – 7%
• Motor vehicle accidents – 5%

“Factors such as inexperience, workforce shortages and maintenance issues are all contributing to these unfortunate and often avoidable accidents,” Travelers Senior VP of Business Insurance Claim Rich Ives said regarding the company’s report. “While the number of injuries overall has been trending downward in recent years, our analysis shows that there’s never been a better time for businesses to invest in workplace safety and injury prevention.”

To read the full report click here.