{"id":146171,"date":"2026-04-28T01:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ecoonline.com\/?p=146171"},"modified":"2026-04-27T13:43:59","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T12:43:59","slug":"92-of-workers-say-safety-boosts-productivity-operational-risks-are-undermining-retention-and-business-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ecoonline.com\/en-us\/news\/workers-say-safety-boosts-productivity\/","title":{"rendered":"92% of  workers say safety boosts productivity. Operational risks are undermining retention and business growth."},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"Pegasus__Container w-full   relative h-fit  text-content-dark mobile-stacking-standard is-layout-flow wp-block-pegasus-container-is-layout-flow\" style=\"  padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20); \" >\n\t        \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t        \t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"relative h-full is-flex-layout flex flex-col justify-start  w-full\">\n\n<p><strong>Dallas, TX | April 28, 2026<\/strong> \u2013 As employers across North America compete for skilled frontline labor in higher-risk sectors, new research from EcoOnline reveals that gaps in workplace safety may be holding back worker recruitment, retention, and productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To mark World Day for Safety and Health at Work, EcoOnline, a leading global provider of safety and sustainability software, today released new findings from its annual <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ecoonline.com\/resources\/the-latest-workplace-safety-report\/\">Workplace Safety Report<\/a>. The report found that of 1,200 workers surveyed across the United States and Canada, 92% said a safer workplace made them more productive, 77% said it would affect their choice of employer, and 78% said they would consider leaving a position due to unsafe conditions.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t        <\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"Pegasus__Container w-full   relative h-fit  text-content-dark mobile-stacking-standard is-layout-flow wp-block-pegasus-container-is-layout-flow\" style=\"  padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20); \" >\n\t        \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t        \t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"relative h-full is-flex-layout flex flex-col justify-start  w-full\">\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:5vh\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Productivity, retention, and workforce pressures<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Across the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/news.release\/jolts.t01.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">U.S.<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www150.statcan.gc.ca\/n1\/daily-quotidien\/260226\/t003b-eng.htm?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Canada<\/a>, hundreds of thousands of roles remain unfilled in higher-risk sectors such as construction, manufacturing, transport, and warehousing. EcoOnline data suggests workplace safety is one of the clearest levers employers have to attract, retain, and motivate talent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yet while most workers report feeling generally safe, incident rates remain high year on year, even as awareness of risk grows. Nearly half, 47%, say they or someone close to them has experienced a workplace incident or illness, indicating that day-to-day safety and operational pressures may be undermining output and wider business performance.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t        <\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"Pegasus__Container w-full   relative h-fit  text-content-dark mobile-stacking-standard is-layout-flow wp-block-pegasus-container-is-layout-flow\" style=\"  padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20); \" >\n\t        \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t        \t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"relative h-full is-flex-layout flex flex-col justify-start  w-full\">\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:5vh\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Operational risks highlighted by workers<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Workers describe safety risk as broader, more complex, and more operational than in the past. Beyond traditional physical hazards, they point to interconnected pressures that directly affect productivity and workers\u2019 willingness to stay in role:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-checkmark-list-jade\">\n<li>Stress was linked to 56% of workplace accidents and illnesses<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ecoonline.com\/en-us\/ehs-software\/lone-worker-2\/\">Lone worker<\/a> confidence in employer responsibility fell from 69% to 62% year on year, with 33% having experienced an accident while working alone in 2025<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Severe and extreme weather events were cited as a top <a href=\"https:\/\/www.d4h.com\/crisis-management-software\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">crisis management<\/a> threat (26%) to business as well as leading worry for lone workers (42%)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chemical exposure in daily work was reported by 53% of workers, up from 44% in 2025<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cyberattacks were cited as another top risk to business operations (26%)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t        <\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"Pegasus__Container w-full   relative h-fit  text-content-dark mobile-stacking-standard is-layout-flow wp-block-pegasus-container-is-layout-flow\" style=\"  padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20); \" >\n\t        \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t        \t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"relative h-full is-flex-layout flex flex-col justify-start  w-full\">\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:5vh\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\"><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>Technology can strengthen safety, with human expertise at the core<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Technology is increasingly seen as part of the workplace safety solution, but confidence still depends on practical value and human oversight:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-checkmark-list-jade\">\n<li>73% of North America workers say digital tools could improve workplace safety, increasing from 70% in 2025<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>47% believe AI could play a positive role, showing interest, but also that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ecoonline.com\/en-us\/blog\/ecoonline-mega-trends-report\/#mega-trend-7\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.ecoonline.com\/en-us\/blog\/ecoonline-mega-trends-report\/#mega-trend-7\">trust still needs to be earned<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In parallel with safety automation, teams still demand humans in the loop. Top asks for safety investment were more <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ecoonline.com\/en-us\/safety-learning-management-system\/\">training for all staff<\/a> (36<strong>%<\/strong>) and ensuring more employees work specifically on safety (38%), reinforcing that technology should support safety teams and scale their expertise, not replace them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>&#8220;We know safe workers are productive workers,&#8221;<\/em> <strong>said Tom Goodmanson, CEO at EcoOnline.<\/strong> <em>&#8220;Not just because accidents create downtime, but because safety directly affects focus and confidence. When the workforce trusts their safety processes, they spend less time compensating for risk and more time doing their jobs well. Connected risk visibility is critical here \u2013 giving teams the clarity to act quickly and keep operations moving. Technology aids this journey by supporting better decisions and scaling human expertise, so productivity and protection reinforce each other. The companies that get this right will be the ones that treat safety as a <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ecoonline.com\/en-us\/blog\/ecoonline-mega-trends-report\/#mega-trend-1\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.ecoonline.com\/en-us\/blog\/ecoonline-mega-trends-report\/#mega-trend-1\"><em>driver of operational readiness<\/em><\/a><em>, not just a cost of compliance.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read the full analysis in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ecoonline.com\/resources\/the-latest-workplace-safety-report\/\">EcoOnline North America 2026 Workplace Safety Report<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t        <\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"Pegasus__Container w-full   relative h-fit  text-content-dark mobile-stacking-standard is-layout-flow wp-block-pegasus-container-is-layout-flow\" style=\"  padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20); \" >\n\t        \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t        \t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"relative h-full is-flex-layout flex flex-col justify-start  w-full\">\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:5vh\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-radius:12px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column has-clay-background-color has-background is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"border-top-left-radius:32px;border-top-right-radius:32px;border-bottom-left-radius:32px;border-bottom-right-radius:32px;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\"><strong><strong>FAQ<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1759485300598\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong><strong><strong><strong>Why is workplace safety a business growth driver?<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Workplace safety increasingly affects more than compliance. It can influence how effectively people work, how long they stay, and how reliably operations run. For employers in higher-risk sectors, that makes safety part of the foundation for stronger output, lower disruption, and more sustainable growth.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1759485349384\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong><strong><strong><strong>How does workplace safety affect productivity and employee retention?<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The findings show workers make a clear link between safety, performance, and loyalty. When employees feel protected, they are more likely to stay focused, work confidently, and remain with their employer. Unsafe conditions, by contrast, can weaken engagement and increase turnover risk.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1759485378706\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong><strong><strong><strong>What are the biggest workplace safety and operational pressures facing North American businesses?<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Workers are signalling a broader mix of challenges than traditional safety hazards alone. Stress, lone working, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ecoonline.com\/en-us\/chemical-safety\/chemical-management-software\/chemical-exposure-software\/\">chemical exposure<\/a>, severe weather, and cyber-related disruption all feature in how they view day-to-day operational pressure. That points to a more connected risk environment, where worker safety and business continuity increasingly overlap.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1759485388971\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong><strong><strong><strong>Do workers believe there is a role for digital tools and <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ecoonline.com\/en-us\/blog\/ai-in-health-and-safety\/\"><strong>AI in heath and safety<\/strong><\/a><strong>?<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Many workers are open to technology playing a bigger role in their safety, particularly where it helps improve visibility, consistency, and speed of response. At the same time, the research suggests confidence still depends on practical value and human oversight. The strongest use of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ecoonline.com\/en-us\/ehs-software\/\">digital EHS software<\/a> and AI is to support safety teams, strengthen decision-making, and scale expertise, not replace it.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1777290779118\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What is the methodology behind the EcoOnline Workplace Safety Report 2026?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The North America findings are part of a wider survey carried out between January and February 2026 among more than 5,900 employed workers aged 18 to 65 across North America, the UK and Ireland, and the Nordics. Within that, 1,200 respondents were surveyed in the United States and Canada across industries including construction, manufacturing, utilities, oil and gas, healthcare, and retail.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t        <\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"Pegasus__Container w-full   relative h-fit  text-content-dark mobile-stacking-standard is-layout-flow wp-block-pegasus-container-is-layout-flow\" style=\"  padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20); \" >\n\t        \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t        \t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"relative h-full is-flex-layout flex flex-col justify-start  w-full\">\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:5vh\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\"><strong>Media contacts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Alyssa Fishwick\u202f&nbsp;&nbsp;<br>Senior Director, Global Public Relations&nbsp;<br>EcoOnline&nbsp;<br>Tel: +46703646396<br>Email: alyssa.fishwick@ecoonline.com <\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t        <\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>EcoOnline research shows workplace safety is now a business performance driver, but persistent incidents and operational strain are hindering progress.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":146183,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"category":[275],"tags":[],"item-type":[208],"class_list":["post-146171","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-resources-en-us","item-type-news-en-us"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>92% of workers say safety boosts productivity. Operational risks are undermining retention and business growth. | EcoOnline US<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"EcoOnline\u2019s 2026 North America Workplace Safety Report shares insights from 1,200 workers on safety, productivity, retention, and operational resilience.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ecoonline.com\/en-us\/news\/workers-say-safety-boosts-productivity\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"92% of workers say safety boosts productivity. Operational risks are undermining retention and business growth. | EcoOnline US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"EcoOnline\u2019s 2026 North America Workplace Safety Report shares insights from 1,200 workers on safety, productivity, retention, and operational resilience.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ecoonline.com\/en-us\/news\/workers-say-safety-boosts-productivity\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"EcoOnline\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-04-28T00:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ecoonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/North-America-2026-Workplace-Safety-Report.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"960\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"960\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Johan Hennius\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Johan Hennius\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ecoonline.com\\\/en-us\\\/news\\\/workers-say-safety-boosts-productivity\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ecoonline.com\\\/en-us\\\/news\\\/workers-say-safety-boosts-productivity\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Johan Hennius\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ecoonline.com\\\/en-us\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/22787b96c92120e097dbfc849629392a\"},\"headline\":\"92% of workers say safety boosts productivity. 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