Avetta report investigates rise in workplace fatalities and safety measures to save lives

Avetta, the Lehi-based provider of supply chain risk management (SCRM) software, has released its inaugural Avetta Insights and Impact Report, a deep dive into the systemic drivers behind fatal workplace incidents based on real-world data from the company’s extensive client and supplier network.

The study also identifies evidence-based strategies that can meaningfully reduce fatality rates across the supply chain.

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), 5,283 workers died on the job in 2023, amounting to 14 families per day facing the loss of a loved one due to a preventable tragedy, study authors said in introducing the data. Beyond the human toll, the economic impact of workplace deaths in 2023 reached $7.7 billion, according to an Avetta estimate based on NSC data.

“Our commitment to safer, smarter supply chains is unwavering; we believe even a single workplace death is one too many,” said Arshad Matin, president, CEO and board member at Avetta. “This report demonstrates the tremendous value of using data, predictive technologies and innovation to prevent fatalities on the job.”

The authors of Avetta’s report found that suppliers that were fully compliant with established safety standards saw a 62 percent lower fatality rate than non-compliant suppliers (1.19 versus 3.12), emphasizing the crucial role of prequalification and compliance processes. Further, suppliers that underwent more than three years of regular safety manual audits experienced a 15 percent improvement in fatality rates (0.45 vs. 0.53), demonstrating the importance of ongoing evaluation.

Organizations involved in safety programs, like those offered by Avetta, for more than 10 years had a 45 percent lower fatality rate than those with only two or three years of involvement (2.04 vs. 3.7), proving that consistent, long-term investment in safety pays off, the study concluded.

“While injury rates have steadily declined over the past decade, fatality rates remain unacceptably high,” Matin added. “Reversing this trend demands a long-term commitment to proactive, data-driven safety practices, going beyond compliance to build true resilience.”

As a leading nonprofit safety advocate in America for over 110 years, the National Safety Council's mission is to eliminate the leading causes of preventable death and injury, with core focus in the workplace and on roadways.

“At the National Safety Council, we know every single workplace fatality is preventable,” said Mark Chung, executive vice president of safety leadership and advocacy at the NSC. “Research like the Avetta Insights and Impact Report, combined with data-driven solutions such as the NSC Consultative Safety Journey and the Avetta Safety Maturity Index, empower organizations to take meaningful, proactive steps toward eliminating injuries and saving lives.”

The entire report can be accessed through the Avetta website at avetta.com.