A new survey, Avetta Insights and Impact Report, looked into the systemic drivers behind fatal workplace incidents based on real-world data. The survey also identified evidence-based strategies that meaningfully reduce fatality rates across the supply chain.
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), 5,283 workers died on the job in 2023, amounting to 14 families per day facing the loss of a loved one due to a preventable tragedy. Beyond the human toll, the economic impact of workplace deaths in 2023 reached $7.7 billion, according to an Avetta estimate based on NSC data.
Key insights from the report:
- Suppliers that were fully compliant with established safety standards saw a 62% lower fatality rate than non-compliant suppliers (1.19 vs. 3.12), emphasizing the crucial role of prequalification and compliance processes.
- Suppliers that underwent more than three years of regular safety manual audits experienced a 15% improvement in fatality rates (0.45 vs. 0.53), demonstrating the importance of ongoing evaluation.
- Organizations involved in Avetta’s safety programs for more than 10 years had a 45% lower fatality rate than those with only 2-3 years of involvement (2.04 vs. 3.7), proving that consistent, long-term investment in safety pays off.
“At the National Safety Council, we know every single workplace fatality is preventable,” said Mark Chung, executive vice president of Safety Leadership and Advocacy at the NSC, in a statement. “Research combined with data-driven solutions such as the NSC Consultative Safety Journey and the Avetta Safety Maturity Index, empower organizations to take meaningful, proactive steps toward eliminating injuries and saving lives.”