Nearly 75 Percent Of US Manufacturers Believe Their Workplace Is Safer Than Last Year

North Haven, CT - Nearly three out of four (74%) of US manufacturers believe that their workplace is safer than it was a year ago, according to new survey findings released today by The Marlin Company and Occupational Health & Safety magazine.

The nationwide survey of 691 manufacturers, conducted in honor of National Safety Month (June), also found that 70% of US manufacturers have experienced no increase to their Worker's Compensation premiums and 55% of those surveyed reported a decrease in the rate of workplace injuries over the last year.

Nearly half of the manufacturers surveyed - 47% -- reported increasing the amount of safety training in the last year. The majority of companies - 57% -- report holding monthly safety meetings. Sixty percent said they supplement their safety meetings with newsletters and other publications and 72% said they supplement the meetings with safety posters.

Manufacturers that don't supplement safety meetings with newsletters, other publications and postings reported a 46% rise in workplace injuries over the last year. While companies that supplement their safety meetings with newsletters, other publications and postings, reported only a 10% rise.

"Manufacturers clearly understand the importance that training pays in improving workplace safety," said Frank Kenna III, CEO of The Marlin Company, an international workplace communications company. "But training alone doesn't do the job. It's important to deliver repeated reminders so that employees stay focused on key safety issues. Adding a visual component like posters can provide additional reinforcement and help workers take safety seriously."

The number one safety problem among US manufacturers is employees' failure to wear personal protective equipment, according to the survey.

The survey found that 60% of US manufacturers experience safety problems from employees' failure to wear personal protective equipment. The number two and three safety problems confronting American manufacturers, according to the survey are

* Slips, trips and falls (58% reported this a problem)
* Back injuries from lifting (47% reported this a problem)

Here are the ranking of safety problems reported by US manufacturers:

                                           Percentage Experiencing Problem

Failure to wear personal protective equipment               61%

Slips, trips and falls                                                   56%

Back injuries from lifting                                             47%

Failure to follow housekeeping procedures                   43%

Improper use of  machinery, such as

lack of guarding or improper placement of fingers          35%  

Eye injuries                                                                22%

Lockout/Tagout                                                          17%

Other                                                                       11%

Injuries related to hazardous materials                         8%

The survey was conducted in March 2006 and fielded to 4,948 manufacturers who subscribe to Occupational Health & Safety.

SOURCE: The Marlin Company