The Most Dangerous Day for Workers in Colorado?

January 2, 2020

Workplace injuries happen every day of the year, but is there one day that’s more dangerous for workers than any other?

If the data-crunchers at Pinnacol Assurance are right, Jan. 9 might be a good day to stay home.

Pinnacol, the largest workers’ compensation insurer in Colorado, says it analyzed its data to identify the “Most Dangerous Day” for workers in Colorado and found, over the past five years, it was consistently Jan. 9.

We’re not talking blips in the data here, either. Pinnacol’s claims data showed a stunning 62% spike in injuries on Jan. 9, with an average of 198 workers getting injured.

Given the time of year, it’s not surprising to know that most of the injuries were “slip, trip and fall on ice or snow.”

A good number of these injuries are minor, to be sure. But according to OSHA, slips, trips and falls cause 15% of all deaths, and are second only to motor vehicles as a cause of fatalities.

There’s plenty that employers (and their employees) can do to help avoid injuries and claims. Here are four of our risk management team’s recommendations:

• Identify potential slip, trip and fall hazards in your workplace: review incident records, inspect locations and consider the impact of changing weather. In other words, keep your parking lot and sidewalks free from ice and snow. And don’t forget about lobbies and entryways.
• Determine what steps you can take reduce the risk, including ensuring workers are wearing appropriate shoes and personal protective equipment. Investing in a pair of ice-traction spikes might be a good idea, too.
• Ensure good lighting and keep equipment in proper working condition. Outdoor stairs, walkways, and parking lots should be well lit. Conduct regular lighting inspections of the construction site, and replace burned-out bulbs immediately. Tune up snow blowers, utility vehicles, and other powered snow-removal equipment so that everything is in working order.
• Remind everyone that getting in and out of their vehicles also can lead to a tumble. As Pinnacol’s safety team suggests, anyone climbing in or out of a car or truck should try to maintain three points of contact at all times, with both feet on the ground (always preferred, right?) and a handhold on something like the door or steering wheel.

Do the above and the odds of injuries will drop. And be careful out there, especially on Jan. 9!

Scott Carlson is a Vice President at CCIG and leads the firm’s construction practice. Reach him at Scott.Carlson@thinkccig.com or 720-212-2040.

CCIG is a Denver-area insurance, employee benefits and surety brokerage with clients nationwide. We do more than make sure you have the right policy. We help you manage your long-term cost of insurance with our risk and claims management expertise and a commitment to service excellence.

Also read: OSHA Revamps Workplace Inspection Approach

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