There has been a long and storied history of increasing workplace safety in America, coupled with the inverse decreasing frequency of workplace injury. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) noted at the turn of the century that "since 1971" the progress had been significant:
"workplace fatalities have been cut by 60 percent, and occupational injury and illness rates, by 40 percent"
The trend has only continued. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the "incident rate of nonfatal injuries" in 1972 was about "10.9 cases per 100 full-time workers," and by 2018 that had decreased to "2.8 cases." That is a 74% reduction. The visual of this BLS chart speaks volumes.
Reducing workplace injury is the most critical point of workers' compensation. The best outcome is for workers to not be injured in the first instances.
CNBC recently reported that workplace safety is being impacted by new technologies. This focuses on the avoidance of injuries as cameras evaluate workers leading to "behavioral modification and coaching." This is catching workplace errors that present risk of accident and injury.
We have all been reminded of safety by technology. There are alerts in our vehicles that prompt seatbelt use. A reminder in a recent rental car told me to check the back seat each time I parked. There are lane-change alerts, parking assists, and much more that illustrate the tech reminders and reinforcements already present.
The article touts results and endorsement of specific technology by one insurance carrier. That company's "three-year pilot program" demonstrated "a more than 70% reduction in workers' comp claims and a near elimination of racketeering charges." The implication is that the surveillance improves both safety per se and affects allegations more broadly.
The safety impacts are notable. The proponents claim that "worker safety compliance" was "70% before implementation," and increased to between "97% to 100%." This is likely attributable to coaching that is noted, but is also perhaps intertwined with the knowledge that cameras are watching. Supervisors and workers alike are perhaps mindful of being observed.
CNBC notes that the result of the pilot project has been a reduction of one company's experience modification rate (EMR). In most states, there is a set premium for workers' compensation. That is the rate at which coverage is purchased. But, just like some drivers have no tickets or accidents and others have many, employers may have different "experience" in workplace safety.
So, if a company has an EMR of 1, then the rate it pays will be the set rate, that is rate times 1. But, as experience (accidents and injury) grows, the rate might be 1.5 and that employer is then paying 50% more for workers' compensation insurance. The pilot project company in this story dropped its EMR from .65 to .25.
That represents a significant cost savings and will likely make the employer more competitive in bidding for work in the construction. CNBC stresses that this technology is present in non-construction industry settings. Thus, the savings are potentially important in various workplace settings.
By the same token, the worker who seeks employment is better served to work somewhere that is amenable to safe practices. Employers that enforce safe workplace requirements and encourage safe activity are protecting the worker and, therefore, likely attract employees who value safety and protection.
There will be those who criticize the presence of workplace surveillance. There will be thoughts raised about privacy and even productivity. Nonetheless, the BLS statistics noted above are compelling. Workers avoiding workplace injury or illness and the treatment, recover, and wage loss that can ensue are better served by safety.
It is likely that technology will also evolve with the implementation of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI). Difficult tasks such as bending and lifting may be ameliorated or eliminated by these new technologies. The study of workplace performance by the surveillance will likely be evaluated and studied by AI; this may increasingly occur in real-time, affording management the chance to stop behavior before it harms.
