Why Safety is Important

Safety and accident prevention concern managers for several reasons. For example, in one recent year, at least 5,190 people died at work, up from about 4,800 the year before. Workplace accidents caused about 2.9 million occupational injuries and illnesses. Such figures probably underestimate injuries and illnesses by two or three times. And they ignore the suffering the accidents cause the employee and their loved ones.

Injuries aren’t just a problem in dangerous industries like construction. For example, computers contribute to airtight sick building symptoms like headaches. And office work is susceptible to problems like repetitive trauma injuries.