January, summer months see similar number of worker injuries & deaths

Traditionally serious injuries and fatalities (SIFs) at job sites occur most frequently in July and August, but according to ISN Software Corp. January is starting to see a similar number of SIFs as the summer months.

For example, the first quarter of 2021 saw 494 SIF events compared with 524 in Q3 of that year. In Q1 2020, there were 726 SIFs compared with 842 in Q3 of that year, and 2019 saw 935 Q1 SIF cases compared with 1,015 in Q3 2019.

ISN attributed the January bump to workers returning from extended holiday breaks with low energy levels and morale, lack of focus and busy schedules. The company noted that by pinpointing these periods with elevated injuries and deaths, organizations can better train employees to prevent these incidents.

COVID’s impact on SIF rate

Data from 2019-2021 showed only 37 SIF cases related to COVID-19, according to ISN. Among those cases, 25 resulted in days away from work and 12 deaths.

While COVID-19 did pervade the U.S. workplace, ISN noted it is unlikely these cases met Occupational Health and Safety Administration criteria for a recordable incident.

“As SIFs continue to impact workforces, companies and contractors must regularly collect and analyze SIF-related data and use insights to adjust their strategies to prevent future incidents,” said Brian Callahan, president and chief operating officer at ISN, said in a release. “Our analysis found that contractors who implemented a process safety management or hazard communication program experienced a 27%-29% lower SIF rate, further illustrating the value of insights like these and the support that data-driven tools from ISN provide in helping workers return home safe each day.”

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