Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index 2025
Liberty Mutual has released its latest report on workplace safety, revealing that accidents at work cost U.S. employers around $58.8 billion each year. Remarkably, the most common causes of these injuries account for a staggering 86% of those expenses, totaling about $50.87 billion.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the report, which highlights the ten main reasons people get seriously hurt at work—specifically, incidents that lead employees to miss more than five days of work. The report ranks these causes based on the medical expenses and lost wages associated with them.
Interestingly, while serious workplace accidents have declined by about 40% over the past 25 years, the overall costs related to workers’ compensation have gone up by 30%. This information comes from credible sources like the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Academy of Social Insurance.
The leading cause of workplace injuries remains overexertion, primarily due to heavy lifting and moving materials, which cost about $13.7 billion. This has been the top cause for 25 years. Following that, falls on the same level, such as slipping or tripping, are the second biggest issue, costing approximately $10.5 billion. This highlights the importance of having good safety measures to prevent such accidents.
Other significant causes of workplace injuries include being struck by objects or equipment and falling from heights, both of which add nearly $11.6 billion to the total costs. Additionally, injuries from over-exertion, vehicle-related accidents, and becoming caught in equipment are also major concerns, showing just how varied the risks at work can be.
Interestingly, the costs related to injuries from repetitive tasks have dropped by 44%, suggesting that safety initiatives are effectively reducing these incidents. Another notable mention is injuries from workers being struck by objects or equipment, which add up to about $1.7 billion.
The report also indicates that a large portion—56%—of injuries involving the back, shoulder, knee, or multiple body parts contribute nearly $32.6 billion to overall costs. Seven out of the ten injury causes listed this year have been recurring themes in all 25 reports published.
Accidents can and do occur, but understanding your risks and implementing preventative measures can help reduce their frequency. Cleary Insurance is here to help. Please call us to ensure you are doing everything possible to prevent unforeseen accidents.
Keep in mind that each index is based on data from three years earlier; thus, the findings this year reflect data from 2022.
To read the Liberty Mutual 2025 Workplace Safety Index please click here 2025 workplace Safety Index.
What is your risk tolerance when it comes to investing?
Before deciding on an investment strategy and portfolio mix, there’s a crucial piece of information you need: Your risk tolerance profile.
Simply put, risk tolerance is defined as the amount of risk that an investor is willing to put up with given the volatility in the value of an asset or investment.
While everyone’s risk tolerance is different, several factors will help determine your individual risk tolerance — and the amount of risk you’re willing to take in your investment strategy.
- Time horizon: How old, or young, you are and when you will need or want to use the money is a primary factor in your risk tolerance. Generally, the younger you are, the more time you may have to recover from losses in higher-risk investments. The older you are, the more risk averse you may be, worried that you won’t have time to recover from stock market losses.
- Impact on lifestyle: The amount of money you are comfortable allocating to investments will contribute to decisions regarding your personal risk factor. If your lifestyle depends on the money you invest, your risk tolerance will be different from another investor whose money, if lost, won’t alter his or her day-to-day living.
- Knowledge of investing: Some riskier investments require an in-depth knowledge of investing and may not be appropriate for someone who has limited knowledge. The more investing knowledge you have, the more comfortable you might be with a more aggressive portfolio.
- Personal comfort level: Your natural inclination may be to be more aggressive, or more prudent, which can have an effect on your investment decisions.
Online investment calculators can help assess your risk tolerance and provide a hypothetical asset allocation mix for you to consider. Generally, these asset allocation models may vary depending on which calculator you use.
Here are three of the most common types based on a risk profile quiz, that you can take yourself:
- Conservative: 70 percent cash/bonds, 30 percent stocks
- Moderate: 40 percent cash/bonds, 60 percent stocks
- Aggressive: 15 percent cash/bonds, 85 percent stocks
Additionally, there can be two extreme models, although either is unlikely in actual practice:
- Short-term/No risk: 100 percent cash/bonds
- Ultra-aggressive: 100 percent stocks
Your risk tolerance profile can help to appropriately diversify your portfolio for the level of risk you are willing to accept. Being diversified means combining a variety of assets to offset potential risks or volatility in any one particular asset. This strategy often works because different classes or categories of investments may not move in the same direction at the same time. One may go down in value, while another goes up. But while diversification can help mitigate risk, it won’t eliminate the chance of a market loss completely. Nor will it guarantee a profit.
By doing a little research, through reputable investment research firms or information provided by your employer-based 401(k) plan, you can fine-tune your investment portfolio. Your risk tolerance profile will help you select the right mutual funds, stocks, and bonds from the multitude available. And in the end, you’ll likely have a portfolio that meets your unique needs.
Provided by Matthew Clayson, courtesy of Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual). CA Insurance License # 0I01304
©2024 Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, Springfield, MA 01111-0001 MM202708-310101
Physical Activity And Exercise
Adults need 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity weekly. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that only 1 in 4 adults receive the recommended amount of physical activity each week.
Why is exercise important?
Research shows that those who are physically active are likely to live longer, healthier lives.
Physical activity can lead to many benefits:
- Weight maintenance
- Reduced blood pressure
- Improved blood sugar regulation
- Improved mental health
- Reduced stress
- Stronger bone density
In addition, a person who has hypertension, diabetes or a history of smoking can greatly benefit from including regular physical activity in their daily routine.
What should be included in an exercise program?
There are three main components to a well-balanced program of physical activity:
- Aerobic activity—Get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (e.g., briskly walking) or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity (e.g., running) every week.
- Muscle strengthening—Incorporate muscle-strengthening exercises at least two days a week. For the purposes of general training, focus on two to three upper body and lower body exercises. Abdominal exercises are an important part of strength training as well.
- Flexibility training—Flexibility training is important too, but it is frequently neglected, resulting in increased tightness as you age and become less active.
As with any change to your health and wellness regime, it’s important to talk to your doctor before you start exercising.
How can I get started?
Commitment to a regular physical activity program is more important than the intensity of your workouts. Choose exercises you are likely to pursue and enjoy, such as these activities:
- Walking
- Running
- Stair climbing
- Biking
- Rowing
- Swimming
Life is full of responsibilities that can pull you in multiple directions, and sometimes exercise takes a back seat to other obligations. But letting your fitness slip can create serious health risks down the road and make bad fitness habits even harder to break later on.
Where can I learn more?
For more information about exercise programs, please contact your doctor.