National Safety Council/Liberty Mutual News Release
For immediate release June19, 2002 Contact: Joe Larkin 630-775-2303 Glenn Greenberg, Liberty Mutual 617-574-5874 National Safety Council and Liberty Mutual Focus on Safety Leadership During Workplace Safety Week, June 23-29 Itasca, IL -- The National Safety Council (NSC) has designated the week of June 23-29, 2002 as Workplace Safety Week. During Workplace Safety Week--part of National Safety Month--the NSC and Liberty Mutual Group will focus on safety leadership as a key to keeping workers safe and containing costs associated with work-related injuries and deaths. Liberty Mutual issued its annual Workplace Safety Index in April, identifying the 10 leading causes of workplace injuries. Overexertion and falls were identified as the leading injury causes. The direct cost of workplace injuries (payments to injured workers and their medical care providers) rose 3.6 percent to $40.1 billion in the 2002 Safety Index from $38.7 billion in the 2001 Safety Index. The total financial impact of both direct and indirect costs (lost productivity, overtime, et cetera) is estimated by the 2002 Safety Index to be as much as $240 billion. *The Safety Index provides motivation and a road map to help employers reduce workplace injuries, including those that are ergonomic-related,* noted Karl Jacobson, senior vice president of Liberty Mutual, who is responsible for safety and health research and product development. *Last year, Liberty Mutual worked with its clients to develop safety programs that saved $200 million by reducing claims 16 percent and having 250,000 fewer workdays lost to injuries.* The results of the Safety Index can be seen at www.libertymutual.com. *All organizations can realize greater productivity and profit by keeping an organization and its employees safe and healthy,* said National Safety Council President Alan C. McMillan. *Liberty Mutual - through its Safety Index and loss prevention consulting services -- helps companies be on the cutting edge of safety leadership.* During Workplace Safety Week, the Council offers safety tips and suggestions to safety leaders on how to engage and actively encourage their employees to observe safe work practices. The Council also offers a range of products, services and publications to help companies observe Workplace Safety Week. Other weeks during National Safety Month have focused on driving safety (June 2-8), home and community safety (June 9-15) and preparedness (June 16-22). For a comprehensive list of National Safety Month activities and safety tips, visit the NSC website at http://www.nsc.org/nsm.htm. The National Safety Council is a not-for-profit, nongovernmental, international membership organization dedicated to protecting life and promoting health. Celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2002, Boston-based Liberty Mutual Group is one of the largest multi-line insurers in the North American property and casualty industry. Along with being the leading provider of workers compensation insurance, programs and services in the United States for 65 years, Liberty Mutual provides a wide range of products and services, including general liability; commercial auto and business property; group life and disability; private passenger auto and homeowners insurance; and individual life and annuities. Liberty Mutual Group employs 35,000 people in more than 800 offices throughout the world. # # #