25% of Payouts to Workers Result From Overexertion.

Five specific injuries and ill nesses account for nearly 65% of the $38.7 billion in wage and medical payments paid by employers in 1998--the last year for which data is available--according to Liberty Mutual Group's Workplace Safety Index.

Overexertion, falls and being struck by an object are among the leading causes of workplace accidents, the Safety Index reports. When the indirect cost of workers' compensation claims is added to the $38.7 billion in direct costs identified by the report, the total economic burden of workplace injuries and illness is far greater, with estimates ranging between $125 billion to $155 billion.

The index includes guide- lines to help reduce costs resulting from job-site accidents. Liberty Mutual identified the leading causes of workplace injuries and illness and associated direct cost, using its own claims data and findings from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Academy of Social Insurance.

Gary Gregg, executive vice president of Liberty Mutual's Commercial Markets, noted three benefits of improving workplace safety. First, it reduces employee pain and suffering. Second, it reduces the direct cost to employers--such as wage-replacement payments and medical expenses. Third, it prevents the indirect cost of these accidents--lower employee morale, lost productivity and the cost of paying for overtime or temporary workers.

Top 5 Worker Injuries or Illnesses

The leading causes of workplace illness or injury that resulted in an employee missing five or more days of work in 1998.

($ Billions)
                                              % of     Workers' comp
Accident                             workers' comp       direct cost
causes                            direct cost paid  paid in U.S. [*]
1. Overexertion [1]                          25.57              $9.8
2. Falls on same level                       11.46               4.4
3. Bodily reaction [2]                        9.35               3.6
4. Falls to lower level                       9.33               3.6
5. Being struck by an object [3]              8.94               3.4
Total accident causes                       100.00             $38.7

(1.) Injuries caused by excessive lifting, pushing, pulling, holding, carrying or throwing of an object.

(2.) Injuries resulting from bending, climbing, loss of balance and slipping without falling.

(3.) For example, a tool falling on a worker from above.

(*.) Estimated

Source: Liberty Mutual Group