employees processing boxes of vegetables

Agriculture, food processing and fuel industries pose many safety risks to workers. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that these sectors often have high rates of injuries and fatalities. In 2021 alone, the agriculture industry recorded 453 worker deaths—equating to approximately 19.5 fatalities per 100,000 workers, nearly five times the average across all industries.1 While safety standards have improved over time, the reality remains: even a single preventable injury or death is one too many.

The importance of worker safety

Worker safety is a key part of any business. It allows employees to do their jobs without facing unnecessary risks and helps foster a secure and productive work environment. An effective safety program helps address potential issues, create safety standards and minimize costly incidents. By prioritizing safety, companies can increase efficiency and support long-term growth and stability. So how can we ensure that every step we take leads to a safer workplace?

Every STEP Counts

Preventing worker injuries starts with creating a culture of safety in your organization. If you don’t have a safety plan in place, it may take time to change unwanted behaviors. Implementing even a few small steps can make a big difference. Nationwide can help.

We developed the Every STEP Counts program, focusing on worker safety education across 4 key areas: selection and orientation, training and safety programs, events and losses, and post-event understanding and actions.

Conclusion

Our Every STEP Counts program is a dynamic risk management solution designed to help you prioritize worker safety. From hiring and training to incident management and post-event actions, our program helps ensure a holistic approach to creating and maintaining a safe workplace. We invite our customers to join us in making every step count toward a safer, more productive work environment.
[1] “National Farm Safety and Health Week: No One Can Take Your Place,” CDC, archive.cdc.gov/www_cdc_gov/niosh/newsroom/feature/national-farm-safety-and-health.html (accessed Jan. 1, 2025).
[2] “Impacts of Employee Tenure on Workers’ Compensation Claim Frequency in California,” Julia Zhang, Ph.D.; YiChen Yu, M.S.; and Lucy Chen, ACAS, wcirb.com/sites/default/files/documents/report-employeetenurestudy-032724.pdf (accessed Jan. 22, 2025).
[3] “Investment in Safety = Positive Bottom Line Results,” U.S. Department of Energy, energy.gov/ehss/investment-safety-positive-bottom-line-results (accessed Jan. 22, 2025).
[4] “How OSHA Improves Workplace Safety (Facts & Statistics),” OSHA, oshaoutreachcourses.com/blog/statistics-how-osha-improve-workplace-safety/ (March 14, 2024).
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