If there is one good piece of news out of Minnesota in 2020, it’s that the total number of fatal workplace injuries that took place in 2018 has been reported and decreased over the course of that year. In 2017, there were 101 fatal workplace injuries, while there were 92 in 2016. In 2018, there were 75.
That equals out to a rate of 2.7 fatalities per 100,000 full-time employees within the state. Of course, deaths don’t tell the whole story about workplace safety. It’s best to look closer at injury rates to see if workers are being safer on the job. The injury and illness rate in Minnesota was at its lowest rate since 1973 in 2018. The state had approximately 3.2 recordable, and nonfatal, workplace illness or injuries in 2018. That’s down .1 percent from the previous year.
How are people getting hurt at work in Minnesota?
Based on the statistics, the most common source of injuries was from issues with flooring, ground surfaces and walkways (19%). Movements of a worker made up around 17% of injuries, and vehicle use made up another 10% of cases.
Make 2020 a year for safety on the job
As you move into 2020, it’s a good time to start talking about reducing the risk of injuries in the workplace. How can you start reducing injury rates?
To begin with, take a look at your surrounding environment. See if there is damage or if any hazards are apparent. Take care of those issues first. Then, start interviewing employees and reviewing safety procedures, so you can find out more about what has to change to make the workplace safer.