2024 Workplace Safety Survey

Check out what we learned in our safety survey and find some useful tips

Please note: the following content was developed for educational purposes only and covers a wide variety of general workplace safety concerns and considerations, some not relevant to workers’ compensation coverage.

Prepared = Protected

Workplace safety is vital for all business owners, and being prepared means you can be protected from a variety of workplace risks. We recently conducted a comprehensive workplace safety survey of 1,034 small business owners as defined by companies with 1-500 employees. This survey provided insights on safety concerns, uncommon workplace accidents, summer heat preparedness, and more.

Here's what you need to know

Generational divides

Our Safety Survey data shows that younger business owners often face a learning curve with safety.

Older business owners (55+) have better safety records, with nearly 70% reporting no workplace injuries in the past five years, compared to 23% of younger owners (18-34).
47% of business owners aged 18-34 wish they had focused more on employee safety from the start, highlighting a desire to improve.
Agents can be a useful resource to younger clients and help bridge the generational safety gap.

Uncommon claims

When we asked business owners to tell us about the most unique injury claims they’ve ever experienced, some of the answers were truly shocking! Read here for a full list of real-life uncommon workplace injuries or check out a few examples below.

One small business had to file a claim after a bird flew into a worker's face, breaking their nose while they were on the roof of a house.
A restaurant owner shared that one of his cooks dipped their hand into hot caramel and got second-degree burns.
Another business owner reported filing a claim because a baby skunk nipped one of their employees. Another business owner’s employee broke their foot frantically running away from a spider.
In an even more bizarre case, a small business reported an injury where a robotic arm, while being operated by an employee to check its grasping ability, grabbed her and inflicted trauma to her chest.

Survey highlights

30% of small business owners wished they had focused more on employee safety from the start of owning a business.
50% of small business owners cited having a workplace injury claim in the past 5 years.
13% of business owners said that mental stress was the most common workplace injury their business has experienced in the past five years.
When asked what their biggest workplace safety nightmare/worst-case scenario was in an open-ended format, many small business owners cited unforeseen hazards like natural disasters, workplace violence, and mental health.
35% of small business owners have not had to nor have plans to make adjustments in preparation for rising temperatures in the hot summer months yet 31% cited employees having been more vocal about rising temperatures affecting their work

It's getting hot in here

As the summer months approach and temperatures are already beginning to soar, small business owners are feeling the heat—quite literally.

Are small businesses really ready to tackle the challenges posed by extreme heat?

65% of survey respondents said they have already adjusted or are planning to adjust safety measures to account for rising temperatures during the summer.
However, a concerning 35% have no such plans.

Learn more

Deep dive

Check out our resources and learn how to prepare and protect your workplace.

Generational divides

There's a generational gap in safety practices. Here's how we bridge it.

Unforseen hazards

There's a spectrum of unseen and often underestimated dangers that can impact small business owners and their employees.

Wild West of workplace hazards

Check out these uncommon injury claims and some tips to help you be prepared.

Small business safety checklist

Download the checklist and prioritize safety in your workplace.

Summer heat safety

Learn more about keeping your employees safe and cool all summer long.

Learn more about Pie

Our leadership

Our company

Our memberships

Pie Insurance commissioned Yougov PLC to conduct the survey. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1034 US small business owners, as defined by companies with 1-500 employees. Fieldwork was undertaken between 19th - 27th February 2024. The survey was carried out online.

Thanks for reading! This content is intended for educational purposes only and does not imply coverage under workers’ compensation or other insurance offered through Pie Insurance Services, Inc. Please consult an agent or attorney for any questions regarding applicability of insurance coverage in all circumstances.