EVERY month is a perfect time to pause and ask:
Are we truly doing everything we can to prevent what we know is preventable?
The hard truth is, many of the injuries and fatalities we see on job sites aren’t just caused by freak accidents.
They’re also caused by complacency, by rushing, by the hazards we’ve seen before—and ignored anyway.
At Youngstrom Safety, we believe safety isn’t about piling on rules. It’s about starting real conversations—ones that go beyond checklists and compliance.
Because rules don’t change behavior—understanding does. When people truly see what’s at stake, safety becomes personal. And that’s when real change happens.
So let’s look at the five most common—and most preventable—incidents still happening on U.S. worksites, and why they matter more than you think.
1. 💪 Overexertion and Bodily Reaction
What It Is:
Strains from lifting, pulling, pushing, carrying, or repetitive motions.
Fact Check:
According to the National Safety Council, overexertion and bodily reaction injuries were the leading cause of nonfatal work-related injuries, with 1,001,440 cases reported over 2021–2022.
Why It Still Happens:
Because crews are trying to finish fast. They skip help. They say “I got it.”
Then end up with a back injury that keeps them out for weeks.
Why It Matters:
How many workers on your crew push through pain because they think it’s expected?
And what does that cost you—in workers comp, missed time, or morale?
Read more from the National Safety Council
Source: National Safety Council
2. ⚙️ Contact with Objects and Equipment
What It Is:
Being struck by or caught in machinery, falling tools, or moving equipment.
Fact Check:
These incidents accounted for 780,690 injuries over the 2021–2022 period.
Source: National Safety Council
Why It Still Happens:
Because the cord wasn’t tied off. The load wasn’t secured. Or the “watch your hands” rule was taken lightly.
Why It Matters:
These aren’t just accidents—they’re split-second decisions with life-altering results.
Ask anyone who’s lost a finger or been pinned under a machine: it only takes once.
Ready to help your team break the habit of complacency—before it’s too late?
Download our 12 Free Safety Prompts and check out “Experienced Workers.”
It’s a 5-minute safety talk that brings seasoned crews back to the heart of why safety still matters.
3. 🪜 Slips, Trips, and Falls
What It Is:
Wet floors. Loose cables. Uneven ground. Unsafe ladder use.
Fact Check:
In 2023, there were 885 fatal work injuries due to slips, trips, and falls.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Why It Still Happens:
Because no one wants to stop and “clean up.”
Because the ladder “was fine last time.”
Why It Matters:
Falls are still one of the top killers on job sites.
And they rarely happen to the guy who was being careful.
💛 Sometimes it’s not the obvious fall—it’s the one no one saw coming.
Use our “Slips, Trips, and Falls” prompt in your next crew huddle to remind your team why even the small stuff needs attention.
Get it inside our 12 Free Safety Prompts—download them here.
4. ☣️ Exposure to Harmful Substances or Environments
What It Is:
Working around chemicals, fumes, heat, cold, or electricity.
Fact Check:
In 2023, 839 fatal work injuries were caused by exposure to harmful substances or environments.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Why It Still Happens:
Because PPE feels annoying. Because the weather changed and nobody adjusted.
Because no one saw it coming.
Why It Matters:
Inhalation injuries and electrocution aren’t just about the moment—they’re about the long-term.
Lung damage. Burns. Lifelong recovery.
We recommend you checking out this company that sells PPE
https://nationalsafetyinc.com/
5. 🚛 Transportation Incidents
What It Is:
Vehicle-related injuries—roadway crashes, equipment collisions, unguarded zones.
Fact Check:
Transportation incidents were the leading cause of work-related fatalities in 2023, with 1,252 deaths reported.
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Why It Still Happens:
Because phones are in our hands. Because fatigue is real.
Because “it’s just a short haul.”
Why It Matters:
These are the incidents most likely to be fatal.
And the ones most likely to impact someone outside your crew, too.
Check out this site for more roadway safety tips and resources:
https://www.nsc.org/
💛 Final Thought
None of these incidents are new.
We’ve seen them. Heard about them. Maybe even lived through them.
But just because they’re common doesn’t mean they should be accepted.
If you’re ready to do more than talk about safety—if you want to make it stick—
you don’t need a new rulebook. You need a better conversation.
And that’s exactly what we’re here to do — help you and your crew move safety from the head to the heart.
Want to bring meaningful conversations to your team?
Book a virtual or in-person safety presentation here.
“Russ and Laurel are great people with a touching personal story to tell. They are high on my list to motivate the workforce to be safe at all times.”
