Cost of Work Accidents: The Monetary Toll

The precise cost of occupational MSDs is not known. Estimates vary depending on the method used. A conservative estimate previously published by NIOSH is $13 billion annually [NIOSH 1996]. Others have estimated the cost at $20 billion annually [AFL-CIO 1997]. Regardless of the estimate used, the problem is large both in health and economic terms.

Work-related MSDs are a major component of the cost of work-related illness in the United States. The California Workers’ Compensation Institute (a non-profit research institute) estimates that upper-extremity MSD claims by workers average $21,453 each [CWCI 1993]. Back pain is by far the most prevalent and costly MSD among U.S. industries today. Recent analysis of the 1988 Occupational Health Supplement of the National Health Interview Survey (an ongoing household-based survey) shows that the overall prevalence of self-reported back pain from repeated activities on the most recent job was 4.5%, or 4.75 million U.S. workers [Behrens et al. 1994]. The mean cost per case of compensable low-back pain was reported to be $8,321 in 1989 [Webster and Snook 1994b].

Webster and Snook [1994a] estimated that the mean compensation cost per case of upper-extremity, work-related MSD was $8,070 in 1993; the total U.S. compensable cost for upper extremity, work-related MSDs was $563 million in 1993. For example, the State of Washington averaged 44,648 work-related MSD claims, with an average total cost of $166.8 million/year for the period 1992–94. The State of Washington has a working population that is 2% that of theU.S. workforce. The compensable cost is limited to the medical expenses and indemnity costs (lost wages). When other expenses such as the full lost wages, lost production, cost of recruiting and training replacement workers, cost of rehabilitating the affected workers, etc. are considered, the total cost to the national economy becomes much greater.

see also:

History History of Work Accidents: Improvements in Workplace Safety 1900-1999
History of Work Accidents - emarkably high health and safety risks on the job

How Bad Is It? Scope and Magnitude of Work Injuries
national source of information about occupational injuries andillnesses in U.S. workers

Learn More Workplace Accident Lawyer
Learn more about workplace accidents and employer safety requirements