Workplace Injury Trends Are Changing — Is Your Workers’ Compensation Coverage Ready?

Workers’ compensation insurance is designed to protect both your employees and your business when workplace injuries happen. But according to the latest injury trend data, the types of claims businesses are experiencing — and the cost of those claims — are continuing to evolve.

A recent workplace injury study from Travelers revealed several important trends affecting businesses across many industries, especially construction, manufacturing, transportation, retail, and restaurants.

New Employees Are More Likely to Get Hurt

One of the biggest findings in the report? Employees in their first year on the job accounted for a large percentage of workplace injuries and claim costs.

This was especially true in industries like:

• Restaurants
• Retail
• Transportation
• Construction

For restaurant businesses specifically, more than half of workplace injury claims involved first-year employees.

That’s a major reminder of how important onboarding and safety training can be — especially when hiring seasonal workers or rapidly growing your team.

Injuries Are Becoming More Expensive

Even though some industries are seeing fewer total injuries overall, the cost of claims continues to rise.

Why?

Several factors contribute:

• Longer recovery times
• More severe injuries
• Rising medical costs
• An aging workforce

Construction workers, for example, experienced some of the longest recovery periods, averaging more than 100 missed workdays per injury claim.

For business owners, that can mean:

• Lost productivity
• Increased workers’ compensation costs
• Staffing challenges
• Potential experience modification increases

Certain Injuries Continue to Be Common

The report also highlighted some of the most frequent workplace injuries businesses continue to face:

• Lower back injuries
• Shoulder injuries
• Slips and falls
• Strains from lifting or repetitive motion

Many of these claims happen during everyday tasks — not necessarily major accidents.

That’s why workplace safety programs, employee education, and proper training remain incredibly important for businesses of all sizes.

Why Workers’ Compensation Insurance Matters

Workers’ compensation insurance helps protect your business by helping cover:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages for injured employees
• Rehabilitation costs
• Employer liability protection

Without proper coverage, even a single injury claim could create significant financial strain for a business.

At Holley Insurance, we help businesses throughout Virginia and North Carolina review their workers’ compensation coverage and explore options that fit their operations, industry risks, and budget.

A Good Workers’ Compensation Strategy Goes Beyond the Policy

The best workers’ compensation programs combine:

• Strong insurance protection
• Workplace safety training
• Return-to-work strategies
• Regular policy reviews

As injury trends continue to change, businesses that stay proactive often put themselves in a much better position long-term.

If you’d like help reviewing your current workers’ compensation coverage or exploring other options, our team at Holley Insurance is happy to help. You can request a complimentary review here!