Slip, trip and fall injuries are the cause of more than 240,000 missed workdays per year and 25% of all workplace accidents. For companies across the nation, workplace slips and falls are an ongoing issue with serious financial and operational implications. Thus, a proven safety solution to reduce slip and fall related injuries and costs is need-ed to combat workplace accidents and injuries and protect the company’s profitability and productivity.

In this whitepaper, you’ll gain insights from an accredited resource study that proves how a safety footwear solution can mitigate accidents and protect employees from safety hazards. You’ll also learn about the benefits of reducing slip and fall accidents and their associated costs.

The NIOSH Study / Method for Reducing Workplace Accidents

The reduction of workplace accidents is likely a key area of concern if your company desires to cut its expenses. However, many organizations are not aware of safety resources, such as a slip-resistant footwear program, that can be leveraged to slash as much as 80% of slip and fall related costs. Research studies have shown that these programs have been proven to help reduce these costly accidents

In December 2013, a study by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) proved slip-resistant footwear to be an effective means for preventing workers’ compensation injury claims caused by slipping on wet or greasy floors. The study examines slip-resistant footwear as a potential protective measure against slip-related accidents, caused by slips (both with or without falls), in the workplace.

NIOSH Study Results and Participation

Without employee participation, even the leading safety footwear cannot yield significant results. One of the key factors in achieving optimal results from slip-resistant footwear is organizational participation and support. In the study, 94% of the workers participated in the slip-resistant footwear program. Unsurprisingly, Aramark’s high percentage of employee adoption of the protective footwear during the testing period is critical to the study’s success.

The Aramark food service division team was able to achieve high program adoption because of the “no-cost- to-workers” program feature in which each food service employees’ shoes were provided by the employer. The assumption that workers who enrolled in the no cost program would comply and wear their shoes is critical to the foundation of the study.

On the other hand, the control group not wearing slip-resistant footwear experienced a 14% increase in slip injury probability. When combined, these results indicate that a slip and fall reduction of as much as 81% can be achieved when a safety shoe policy is implemented and adopted.

Benefits of Reducing Workplace Accidents

In the United States, 7 million workplace injuries occur each year. These injuries result in 99 million days of lost productivity and over $70 billion spent on workers’ compensation. Thus, many companies aim to reduce workplace accidents to protect their bottom line and drive productivity.

According to the 2018 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index, serious, non-fatal workplace injuries totaled nearly $60 billion in direct U.S. worker’s compensation costs. Still, workers’ compensation costs are often only a fraction of the direct expenses once legal fees and other costs are considered.

Indirect costs, the unbudgeted, uninsured expenses that accompany workplace accidents, must also be factored  into the equation. These costs include productivity loss, accident investigation, reduced employee morale and  damaged equipment. Indirect costs are typically 2 to 10 times as expensive as direct costs. Because this type of  expense is usually ineligible for insurance coverage, an even greater financial burden is placed on the company.

But financial savings is only one major benefit of reducing workplace accidents. Boosted employee morale,  improved customer satisfaction and fewer missed workdays are also advantages of mitigating workplace hazards  and creating a safer work environment.

The Solution Conclusion

Based on the NIOSH and CDC study, a slip-resistant footwear program is a proven solution to reduce workplace  accidents. A protective footwear plan, like those offered by Shoes For Crews®, yields both significant savings and  a positive return on investment.

The most important element to the success of a safety footwear program is the footwear itself, and not all slip-re sistant shoes are created equal. Genuine slip-resistant shoes feature a high coefficient of friction for maximum traction in slippery environments, tested and confirmed by independent laboratory results. The key is to choose a  trusted footwear provider who is an expert in the field of slip-resistant outsole technology.

" During the first year with Shoes For Crews®, we saw a dramatic  decrease in the slip and falls within this group. The gripping  ability of Shoes for Crews products in water and other slippery  substances cannot be matched by the other vendors we have  tried. We have found SFC to be clearly superior in these environments…Because of the success with our partnership in Shoes for Crews, we have seen savings exceeding the cost of  the program. We find this program valuable because making  an investment in our employees lets them know that we care  about them being able to perform their jobs safely.

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