OSHA's $afety Pays Program

Background of the Cost Estimates

The average claim cost estimates are provided by National Council on Compensation Insurance, Inc. (NCCI). The data reflects the average cost of lost time workers' compensation insurance claims derived from unit statistical reports submitted to NCCI for policy years 2006-2008.

NCCI makes no guarantees nor assumes any responsibility for the accuracy of or any results obtained through the use of the NCCI data provided through this tool. NCCI's information and data may not be used or copied in any manner excepted as provided in conjunction with the OSHA website tool, "$afety Pays."

The National Council on Compensation Insurance, Inc. manages the nation's largest database of workers compensation insurance information. NCCI analyzes industry trends, prepares workers compensation insurance rate recommendations, determines the cost of proposed legislation, and provides a variety of services and tools to maintain a healthy workers compensation system.

The indirect cost estimates provided in this program are taken from the Business Roundtable publication, Improving Construction Safety Performance, and are based on a study conducted by the Stanford University Department of Civil Engineering. The magnitude of indirect costs is inversely related to the seriousness of the injury. The less serious the injury the higher the ratio of indirect costs to direct costs. While they may account for the majority of the true costs of an accident, indirect costs are usually uninsured and therefore, unrecoverable. The indirect cost multipliers used in $afety Pays are general estimates based on the limited research on this issue. The indirect cost multiplier will vary depending on an employer's unique circumstances.

The following are examples of indirect costs:
  • Any wages paid to injured workers for absences not covered by workers' compensation;
  • The wage costs related to time lost though work stoppage;
  • Administrative time spent by supervisors following accidents;
  • Employee training and replacement costs;
  • Lost productivity related to new employee learning curves and accommodation of injured employees; and
  • Replacement costs of damaged material, machinery and property.
Direct Costs Indirect Cost Ratio
$0 - $2,999 4.5
$3,000 - $4,999 1.6
$5,000 - $9,999 1.2
$10,000 or more 1.1
"$afety Pays" uses the sliding scale table at right to calculate the indirect costs of the injuries and illness.