The insurtech company, Pie Insurance, released its 2025 State of Workplace Safety Report with insights into the evolving safety landscape for small businesses across the U.S. Data captured from over 1,000 small business owners and decision-makers were analyzed to discover how they are responding to trends in safety like mental health challenges, preventable injuries, employee resistance, and AI-powered safety technology.
- Construction leaders say over-reliance on tech is a growing safety risk: When asked about the most dangerous trends in their industry, nearly 23 percent of construction SMBs pointed to an over-reliance on safety technology. Many also cited workers ignoring protocols, fatigue, and a lack of training—suggesting that jobsite risks are rising not just from physical hazards, but from gaps in culture and accountability.
- While mental health tops the charts overall, construction’s risks remain physical: Mental health-related injuries were the most reported across all small businesses, cited by 22 percent of respondents. But among those in construction, physical injuries dominate (59 percent), with cuts and lacerations (39 percent) reported most often, followed by slips, trips, and falls (20 percent), then overexertion or strain injuries (16 percent).
- Construction leaders believe most workplace injuries are preventable, but many still aren’t prepared: Among small business decision-makers in construction, more than 28 percent said that 90 to 100 percent of accidents on the job are preventable. This shows strong confidence in their ability to reduce risk—yet many of these same firms may still face gaps in tools, training, and resources to make prevention a reality.
- Employee resistance is construction’s biggest safety roadblock: In the construction industry, 53 percent of small business leaders identified employee resistance to safety changes as their top obstacle to improving workplace safety. This far outpaced concerns about time, training, or budget—pointing to a cultural challenge on job sites that can undermine even well-designed safety protocols.
Download the full report at PieInsurance.com/safety-survey.
According to the release:
Workplace injuries remain a significant challenge, with 75% of small businesses reporting incidents in the past year, half of which were reported as preventable. The report highlights the financial toll that workplace incidents can take, with more than 30% of small businesses reporting over $20,000 on injury-related costs in the past year. On average, injuries resulted in four lost employee workdays and three full business days of disruption annually.
Commercial vehicle accidents are another costly workplace safety concern, with 42% of businesses with commercial vehicles reporting auto-related incidents in the past year, each costing an average of $5,725 per accident. However, based on survey findings, if small businesses could prevent half of workplace injuries, the average annual out-of-pocket savings (workers’ compensation, medical expenses, and/or legal costs) could reach up to $10,000 or more.
More figures:
- 44% of small businesses have already integrated AI-powered safety solutions, and 73% reported improvements in workplace safety outcomes
- 46% of small businesses identified mental health as their greatest workplace safety risk in 2025
- 39% say that underestimating mental health risks is the most dangerous workplace safety trend today
- 91% express confidence in managing mental health risks
- 52% have formal safety protocols in place
- 71% plan to introduce or expand mental health safety measures in 2025
- 36% stated "they don't think it's necessary," and 32% stated "they forget" as the most common reasons given for not following safety protocols
"Workplace safety isn’t just about preventing physical injuries—it’s essential to both employee well-being and a business’s long-term success,” said Carla Woodard, SVP of Claims at Pie Insurance. “Our 2025 data makes one thing clear: safety isn’t just a compliance checkbox—it’s a competitive advantage. Businesses that invest in proactive safety measures, from basic accident prevention protocols and mental health support to AIdriven solutions, are not only protecting their teams but can also reduce costs and strengthen operations. The right approach to safety can create stronger, more resilient businesses.”
The full report can be downloaded at PieInsurance.com/safety-survey.
The safety report was based on a 15-minute survey commissioned by Pie Insurance and conducted by YouGove PLC. Responses from 1,018 small business owners and decision-makers responsible for commercial insurance and workers' compensation coverage at companies with 2-500 employees. The survey was fielded from Jan. 9-18, 2025.
