Why Our Mission Matters
Every year, more than 5,000 workers across the U.S. die in work-related accidents, while thousands more succumb to diseases that developed from occupational exposures. Millions of others suffer injuries, including ones that affect not only their ability to provide for their families but their quality of life. Behind each statistic is a person: a father, a daughter, a friend, a colleague, an employee. Their stories ripple through families and communities, leaving behind grief, financial hardship, and — because these injuries and deaths are often avoidable — unanswered questions about what could have been prevented.
Human Cost
The economic cost of occupational injuries and fatalities is crushing. According to the National Safety Council, the estimated annual economic burden of workplace injuries and deaths in the U.S. is $176.5 billion, roughly on par with that of cancer. That calculation includes factors such as healthcare costs, wage and productivity loss, and administrative expenses. These costs are borne by every business, in every industry, and permeate across the U.S. economy. The scope of the cost burden means that addressing worker safety and health isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s a fiscal imperative for industries and businesses that want to thrive.
