Hopkinton, MA \u2013 \u201cOverexertion involving outside sources\u201d was the leading cause of disabling injuries in the United States in 2014 for the third consecutive year, according to the Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index, an annual ranking of serious, nonfatal workplace injuries based on direct workers\u2019 compensation costs.<\/p>\n
The overexertion category includes lifting, pushing, pulling and other actions involving objects. Related injuries cost U.S. businesses $13.79 billion in 2014, the report states.<\/p>\n
Other injury causes and their related costs were:<\/p>\n
Falls on same level ($10.62 billion)\nFalls to lower level ($5.50 billion)\nStruck by object or equipment ($4.43 billion)\nOther exertions or bodily reactions ($3.89 billion)\nRoadway incidents involving motorized land vehicle ($3.70 billion)\nSlip or trip without falling ($2.30 billion)\nCaught in or compressed by equipment or objects ($1.95 billion)\nStruck against equipment or object ($1.94 billion)\nRepetitive motions involving micro-tasks ($1.81 billion)\nOverall, disabling work injuries resulted in $59.87 billion in workers\u2019 compensation costs in 2014, with the top 10 causes totaling $49.92 billion.<\/p>\n
Researchers used data from Liberty Mutual, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Academy of Social Insurance to compile the safety index.<\/p>\n